Objectivity and stability of the Preschool Imitation and Praxis Scale.
OBJECTIVE
We examined rater and test-retest reliability of the Preschool Imitation and Praxis Scale (PIPS).


METHODS
We administered the PIPS to 119 typically developing children ages 1.5-4.9 yr.


RESULTS
The PIPS demonstrated acceptable intra- and interrater reliability on item level (k(w) = 0.45-1) and scale level (intraclass correlation coefficient ICC = 0.996; 95% CI: 0.968-0.999 and ICC = 0.995; 95% CI: 0.990-0.997, respectively). The smallest detectable difference of the PIPS was 5.6%, indicating that the change score rated by different raters for an individual child is valid and that the PIPS can be used by different raters as an outcome measure to determine children's improvement or maturation. Results of test-retest analysis revealed that the PIPS score is stable over time (r = .93).


CONCLUSIONS
The PIPS appears to meet the required standards regarding objectivity and stability. The PIPS may assist clinicians and researchers in evaluating and reevaluating preschoolers' imitation ability, which is a primary learning strategy of young children.
Department of Health Care, PHL University College, REVAL, Agoralaan Building A, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium. MVanvuchelen@mail.phl.be
Marleen
M
Vanvuchelen
Herbert
H
Roeyers
Willy
W
De Weerdt
D001530:Belgium; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D011581:Psychological Tests / Q000592:standards*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D015203:Reproducibility of Results