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Updated: Jun 9, 2026
10:32
Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills
Published on: April 23, 2014
Validity evidence for the Child Occupational Self Assessment.
Jessica M Kramer1, Gary Kielhofner, Everett V Smith
1Department of Occupational Therapy, Boston University, 635 Commonwealth Avenue, SAR 512, Boston, MA 02215, USA. kramerj@bu.edu
Summary
The Child Occupational Self Assessment (COSA) shows good validity for interpreting children's occupational competence and values. While most results are valid, some external validity measures varied with demographics and administration.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Occupational Therapy
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Valid interpretation of children's self-reports requires strong psychometric properties.
- The Child Occupational Self Assessment (COSA) aids children in identifying occupational goals and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the psychometric properties and validity evidence of the Child Occupational Self Assessment (COSA) in children with disabilities.
- To determine if COSA responses can be validly interpreted as indicators of occupational competence and value.
Main Methods:
- Five hundred two children with disabilities (ages 6-17) completed the COSA.
- Rasch Partial Credit modeling and statistical analyses were employed to assess validity.
- Content, structural, substantive, and external validity were examined using fit statistics and unidimensionality.
Main Results:
- The COSA demonstrated good content, structural, and substantive validity based on item and child fit statistics and unidimensionality.
- Evidence for external validity was mixed, with child fit and measures varying across demographic and administration variables.
- Most children's responses to the COSA were interpretable as valid indicators of occupational competence and value.
Conclusions:
- The Child Occupational Self Assessment (COSA) provides a valid measure of occupational competence and value for children with disabilities.
- While generally robust, practitioners should consider demographic and administration factors when interpreting external validity measures.
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