Measuring the structural validity of two Nordoff-Robbins scales for a patient with Tuberous Sclerosis

Abstract

Over the years, Music Therapy has focused on conducting several clinical studies to verify treatment efficacy. However, only in the last two decades the amount of studies have increased based on the validation of specific Music Therapy assessment instruments. The basis for validating these instruments has its origin in psychometry. Psychometry, in turn, has been influenced by a secular practice that it would be possible to make inferences about the population from an individual. However, studies show that the correct thing is to evaluate an individual several times in order to make an inference about him. Thus, in this study, an evaluation of a patient diagnosed with Tuberous Sclerosis, autism and mental disability was carried out in order to verify the structural validity of the two scales for this patient. The evaluations took place from 120 excerpts of video recordings of Music Therapy interventions. The "Child-Therapist Relationship in the Coactive Musical Experience Scale" and the "Musical Communicativennes Scale" were used as assessment instruments. Data analysis took place by testing different models of confirmatory factor analysis of items where the scales latent variables were analyzed. It was evident that for the analyzed patient, considering the 120 excerpts of the video recordings, the two scales showed confidence only for the general latent variable, the interaction. This study contributes to rethink scales’ use. In addition, it contributes to other studies to be carried out on structural validity with other individuals, diagnoses, instruments and approaches.