Motor Competence Assessment Research Articles

Rasch Partial Credit Analysis of Gross Motor Competence

The purpose of this study was to introduce a model for measurement of partial credit for the assessment of gross motor competence. Four different striking tasks were administered to a total of 128 children, ages 3 to 9 years, consisting of 64 boys and 64 girls. The partial scores were analyzed using the Rasch Partial Credit model. Satisfactory fit of model and data was obtained for Task 1 and Task 4. Step difficulties estimated for Tasks 1 and 4 ranged from 5.61 to 5.50. The average ability of the children was 0.09 (SD = 2.95). The first and second steps of Tasks 1 and 4 were easy for the children and the fourth step was difficult for them. The major advantage of using the Rasch Partial Credit analysis is that motor process measures can be calibrated and analyzed by a quantitative model with advanced test characteristics.

Perceptions of Physical Competence, Motor Competence, and Participation in Organized Sport: Their Interrelationships in Young Children

Abstract This study examined the interrelationships among perceived physical competence, motor competence, and participation in organized sport in young children. Males and females in Grades K through 4 (n = 250) were given The Perceived Competence Scale for Children (Harter, 1979) or The Pictoral Scale for Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children (Harter, Pike, Efron, Chao, & Bierer, 1983), a 9-item motor competence assessment battery, and a questionnaire regarding their participation in sport. Results revealed that perceived physical competence for children in these grade levels was not significantly related to their participation in organized sport programs. Motor competence was significantly related to participation in that participants in organized sport programs performed selected gross motor tasks better than did nonparticipants. Further, children's reported perceptions of physical competence were significantly related to their demonstrated motor competence. Discussion focused ...