Construct validity of the Bruininks‐Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency and the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales

Abstract

The construct validity of the Bruininks‐Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) and the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales (PDMS) were examined by administering both tests to 40 children (24 boys and 16 girls) aged between 4.5 and 5.5 years. Factor analysis of the BOTMP and the PDMS subsets failed to support the original subdivision of both tests into fine and gross motor composites. Factor analysis suggested the existence of one strong factor underlying the structure of both the BOTMP and the PDMS subsets. This factor could be labelled ‘general motor proficiency’ in each test. A second much weaker factor emerged for both tests; however, the nature of these second factors was less clear. The results suggest that claims of test subdivision into gross and fine motor composites for both the BOTMP and the PDMS are misleading.