Reliability and Validity of Play‐based Observations: relationship between the PLAY behaviour observation system and standardised measures of cognitive and social skills

Abstract

Little, if any, examination of the reliability and validity of play‐based assessment exists in the current literature. Thus, the present study specifically examined the relationship between scores obtained on a classroom‐based play observation system and standardised measures of cognitive and social competence with preschool children. High reliability between observers was established for the play‐based assessment measure. In addition, concurrent validity was assessed by comparing scores on the PLA Y assessment measure with scores the children obtained on the Battelle Developmental Inventory (BDI) and Social Skills Rating Scale (SSRS‐T). Significant positive correlations in the predicted directions were obtained: Children rated as more cognitively and socially competent were found to engage in higher levels of play behaviours (e.g. associative‐constructive and co‐operative‐dramatic), while children identified as less cognitively and socially competent engaged in lower levels of play behaviours (e.g. solitary‐functional and onlooker). The study suggests that, when operationally defined play observation methods were used, observers were able to record accurately the level of play exhibited by each child, and these play behaviours did reflect the child's current cognitive and social developmental functioning.