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Published on: February 25, 2016
Development and Testing of the Observational System for Recording Physical Activity in Children-Toddlers
Cailyn A Van Camp1, Anela Panlasigue1, Kimberly A Clevenger2
1Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
Insights
A new tool, the Observational System for Recording Physical Activity in Children-Toddlers (OSRAC-T), reliably assesses toddler physical activity (PA) and environment. This system aids in understanding PA behaviors for better childcare and health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Kinesiology
- Child Development
Background:
- Existing direct observation (DO) tools for preschoolers are insufficient for assessing toddler physical activity (PA).
- A specific DO system for evaluating PA levels and the childcare environment of toddlers was lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate the Observational System for Recording Physical Activity in Children-Toddlers (OSRAC-T).
- To assess the inter- and intra-rater reliability of the OSRAC-T for toddler PA assessment.
Main Methods:
- The OSRAC-T was developed based on existing research, expert consultation, and informal observations, extending a preschooler PA tool.
- Toddlers (12-36 months) were video recorded in childcare settings.
- Intra-rater reliability was assessed by comparing in-person to video observations by one coder; interrater reliability was determined by two coders analyzing shared video segments.
Main Results:
- The OSRAC-T includes nine categories covering PA level/type, social/environmental contexts, and transition support.
- Moderate to high interval-by-interval agreement (58.90%-95.30%) was found across categories.
- Interrater reliability ranged from low to moderate (k = 0.28-0.69).
Conclusions:
- The OSRAC-T is a reliable tool for assessing toddler PA-related behaviors.
- This system can inform early childcare center design, intervention studies, and research on PA and health outcomes in toddlers.
Abstract:
Direct observation (DO) tools developed for preschoolers have been used to describe toddler physical activity (PA). No DO system created to assess PA levels and the childcare environment of toddlers exists. The purpose of this study was to develop the Observational System for Recording Physical Activity in Children-Toddlers (OSRAC-T) and assess the inter- and intra-rater reliability. This tool is an extension of the Observational System for Recording Physical Activity in Children-Preschool and uses the same focal child, time sampling system (5-second observation and 25-second recording). Tool content was established through identifying similar research, consulting with experts, and conducting informal observations. A sample of toddlers (12-36 months) was observed and video recorded during childcare. In-person observations were compared to video observations from one coder (intrarater reliability). Video observations (39% of intervals) were coded by two raters to determine interrater reliability. The final instrument included nine categories that described PA level and type, social and environmental contexts, and transition support relevant to toddlers. Observers completed 124 observation sessions (n = 31; 25.5 ± 6.0 months) resulting in 7,757 30-second observation intervals. Interval-by-interval agreement was moderate to high (58.90%-95.30%) for all categories, and interrater reliability was low to moderate (k = 0.28-0.69). The OSRAC-T is a reliable observation system to assess several PA-related behaviors of toddlers. It may be used to better inform early childcare center design, future intervention studies, or to assess correlates or relationships between PA behavior and health outcomes in toddlers.
