The Psychometric Properties of the Structured Preschool Participation Observation (SPO)

Abstract

Aims

To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Structured Preschool Participation Observation (SPO), based on the COnsensus-based-Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments. The SPO development was based on biopsychosocial and ecological models to evaluate children's participation in play, learning and social occupational areas.

Methods

Following the establishment of content validity, construct validity using factor analysis and reliability were examined among 250 preschool children with typical development (TD). The known-groups procedure was used, comparing 88 children with developmental disabilities (DD), who attended special educational settings with the TD children.

Results

Three factors accounted for 68% of the variance. High internal consistency (alpha>.812) was found, as well as a significant moderate-to-high inter-rater reliability in most areas. Children with TD scored significantly higher than children with DD with small to large effect sizes.

Conclusions

The SPO appears to be a suitable measure for assessing children's participation in preschool activities through structured observation. Further studies are needed to further establish its psychometric properties, along with using additional scales of enjoyment and/or involvement and self-care activities. The SPO may assist in generating intervention goals for children with limitations in participation and may complement information gathered from parents.

Keywords:

• educational setting
• evaluation
• participation
• preschool
• reliability
• validity

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the researchers and occupational therapists who assisted in this study, as well as to our partners in the community and the children.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Parts of this study were in collaboration with the Achiya Institute and were supported by the Bernard Van Leer Foundation (ISR-20088-0.25.1.1).

Notes on contributors

Anat Golos

Anat Golos, PhD, OTR, is a Head of Environment and Participation in Community Laboratory; Head of Undergraduate Studies and Deputy Chair of School of Occupational Therapy, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.

Naomi Weintraub

Naomi Weintraub, Prof, OTR, is a Head of the Neuro-Developmental Disabilities and Writing Research Laboratory, the School of Occupational Therapy, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.