Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.15516/cje.v19i0.2690
Reliability of Tests Assessing Balance, Coordination, and Strength among Younger Preschool Children
Vatroslav Horvat
; Faculty of Teacher Education, University of Zagreb
Igor Bokor
; Faculty of Teacher Education, University of Zagreb
Iva Palijaš
; Kajzerica Primary School, Zagreb
Abstract
The aim of this research is to determine the psychometric properties of tests which assess balance, coordination, and strength among younger preschool children. The sample consisted of 115 children aged 4 years (+/- 6 months). The sample of variables was made up of 9 newly designed tests for assessing balance (MRUJN – standing longitudinally on one foot; MRPDN – standing transversally on both feet; MRUDN – standing longitudinally on both feet), coordination (MKTL – running with a ball; MKKČ – crawling in circles on all fours; MKTČ – running towards cones), and strength (MSČ15 – number of squats in 15 seconds; MSIM – throwing a medicine ball; MSSV – high jumps). The K-S test was used to examine the normality of distributions. The reliability of measuring instruments was determined with Cronbach's alpha (α). Homogeneity was calculated by the average correlation between particles (IIr). Sensitivity of the newly designed tests was assessed by the measures of skewness (Skew) and the level of kurtosis (Kurt) of the results, whereby factorial validity was determined by factor analysis. The obtained results indicate good metric characteristics of the tests for assessing coordination (MKTL, MKKČ, MKTČ) and strength (MSSV). Based on the results, one may conclude that it is possible to reliably measure coordination and explosive strength, such as jumping, whereas tests for assessing balance and other types of strength have to be more precisely defined, so that satisfactory metric characteristics might be obtained in a repeated study.
Keywords
motor skills; psychometric properties; 4-year-old children
Hrčak ID:
193793
URI
Publication date:
3.8.2017.
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