Abstract
The Canadian Agility and Movement Skill Assessment (CAMSA) was recently widely used to assess fundamental motor skills in children. Although the CAMSA is reported to be reliable and valid, its measurement properties are not clear. This study aimed to examine the measurement properties of the CAMSA in a sample of Chinese children using Rasch analysis. The study sample was from 1,094 children aged 9–12 years in Zunyi City, Guizhou Province. Descriptive data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 software, and the dichotomous data were analyzed by Winsteps version 4.5.4 and Facets 3.67.1 software performing Rasch analysis. The present study investigated CAMSA measurement characteristics by Rasch analysis, including the reliability of the rating instrument, unidimensionality, item-fit statistics, and differential item functioning (DIF). Inter-rater reliability and retest reliability showed that the CAMSA had a good internal consistency. Rasch analysis indicated that the CAMSA was unidimensional, locally independent, and had a good item-fit-statistic. Additionally, the CAMSA displayed a good fit for the item separation index (12.50 > 2.0), as well as for item reliability (0.99 > 0.90). However, the item difficulty of the CAMSA did not fit well with personal ability, and a significant DIF was found across genders. In the Chinese children sample test, the CAMSA demonstrated appropriate goodness-of-fit validity and rater reliability. Thus, future research will explore item difficulty and person ability fit, as well as DIF across genders.
Highlights
Children’s fundamental motor skills (FMS) have long been described as a cornerstone of their physical activity, and they are typically classified into movement skills, object control skills, and stability skills [1, 2]
These motor skill assessments accurately measure the completion of movements; the “real sport situation” is ignored, and the measurement results may deviate from an actual context [14]
Contrary to these traditionally popular assessment tools, the Canadian Agility and Movement Skill Assessment (CAMSA) is the first international closed-loop motor skills assessment tool based on a series of combined movements [15]
Summary
Children’s fundamental motor skills (FMS) have long been described as a cornerstone of their physical activity, and they are typically classified into movement skills (e.g., running, sliding), object control skills (e.g., catching, kicking), and stability skills (e.g., balance) [1, 2]. A common feature of these assessment tools is that each movement is measured independently, and actions are not connected These motor skill assessments accurately measure the completion of movements; the “real sport situation” is ignored, and the measurement results may deviate from an actual context [14]. Contrary to these traditionally popular assessment tools, the Canadian Agility and Movement Skill Assessment (CAMSA) is the first international closed-loop motor skills assessment tool based on a series of combined movements [15]. The Children’s Physical Literacy Assessment application showed that the CAMSA assessment results were similar to real sport situations [19]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call