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Construct validity of the Motor Development Scale (MDS)
Paola Matiko Martins Okuda1, Erika Félix1, Hugo Cogo-Moreira1,2
1Departamento de Psiquiatria e Psicologia Médica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
The Motor Development Scale (MDS) demonstrates construct validity for assessing motor development in Brazilian children aged 4 to 6 years. This unidimensional model offers a reliable and concise evaluation tool for this age group.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Motor Skills Assessment
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Construct validity for the Motor Development Scale (MDS) has not been previously established.
- Assessing motor development in young children is crucial for early identification of potential issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the appropriateness of a unidimensional model for the MDS in Brazilian children aged 4 to 6 years.
- To provide construct validity evidence for the MDS items in this specific age cohort.
Main Methods:
- A total of 938 children (214 4-year-olds, 643 5-year-olds, 81 6-year-olds) participated.
- Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed to evaluate the unidimensional model's fit and construct validity.
Main Results:
- The CFA indicated excellent model fit across all age groups (4, 5, and 6 years) with strong adequacy indices.
- Reliability analysis showed good internal consistency (omega = 0.87).
Conclusions:
- The unidimensional solution for the MDS is appropriate for assessing motor development in children aged 4 to 6 years.
- The MDS provides a concise, parsimonious, and reliable measure for this population.
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