A validation and reliability study of the Movement Environmental Rating Scale (MOVERS)

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Movement Environment Rating Scale (MOVERS), using data from 13 early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings. Test-retest reliability was calculated using ICCs, percentage agreement and weighted Kappa. Internal consistency was examined using Cronbach’s alpha. To examine concurrent validity between the MOVERS and Sustained Shared Thinking and Emotional Well-being Scale (SSTEW) scale and the Environmental Policy and Assessment Observation (EPAO), correlation coefficients were computed. Multi-level regression analyses were conducted to examine the criterion validity of MOVERS and children’s outcomes. ICC was 0.959 (p < 0.0001), weighted Kappa was 0.904 (p < 0.001), and percentage agreement was 69%–100%. Cronbach’s alpha of MOVERS was α = 0.94 and α = 0.89. Statistically significant correlations between MOVERS subscales and some SSTEW and EPAO sub-areas were reported. Item 4 (Body movement to support fine motor skills) of MOVERS and children’s fine motor skills was significantly correlated. This study shows that MOVERS is a reliable and valid scale that can, with training, be confidently used for research, audit, self-evaluation for practice improvement.

KEYWORDS:

• Environmental rating scale
• physical domain
• quality
• early education
• child-care

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the educators and children from all the ECEC settings involved in the study, including those from the Early Start Baseline Project and Jump Start.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.