title: Using the Rasch measurement model to investigate the construct of motor ability in young children.
abstract: This paper reports the use of a Rasch measurement model, the Extended Logistic Model of Rasch (Andrich, 1988), to explore the construct of a general motor ability in young children. Data were collected from 332 five and six year old children performing 24 motor skills, including run, hop, balance and ball skills. The data were categorised based on threshold estimates provided by the measurement model. Gender differences in performances on items were hypothesised to contribute to initial item and person misfit for the total sample. The data for boys and for girls were separated and independently analysed resulting in improved item and person fit. Two different, unidimensional scales for boys and for girls were created.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Movement and Exercise Science, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6907, Australia. bhands@cygnus.uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hands
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Larkin
mesh_terms: D001076:Aptitude; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009048:Motor Skills; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D014904:Western Australia