The validity of the 4-Skills Scan A double-validation study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Development
• Motor Skill Assessment
• Physical Education

Background:

• Gross motor skills are crucial for child development.
• Physical education (PE) teachers monitor motor skills using various tools.
• The validity of the 4-Skills Scan for assessing gross motor skills has not been previously established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the construct and concurrent validity of the 4-Skills Scan (versions 2007 and 2015).
• To determine if the 4-Skills Scan is a reliable instrument for PE teachers.

Main Methods:

• 212 primary school children (6-12 years) participated.
• Construct validity was assessed using an obstacle course and expert panel observation.
• Concurrent validity was determined by comparing results with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (M-ABC-2).

Main Results:

• Moderate correlations were found between the 4-Skills Scans and expert evaluations (r = .47 for 2007, r = .46 for 2015).
• Moderate to high correlations were observed between the 4-Skills Scans and the M-ABC-2 (gross) (r = .56 for 2007, r = .64 for 2015).

Conclusions:

• Both versions of the 4-Skills Scan are considered satisfactory and valid instruments.
• The 4-Skills Scan can be effectively used by PE teachers to assess gross motor skills in primary school children.