Construct validity and responsiveness of Movakic: An instrument for the evaluation of motor abilities in children with severe multiple disabilities.
Movakic is a valid 15-minute checklist that catches real motor gains in kids with severe multiple disabilities.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team built a 25-item checklist called Movakic. It tracks small motor steps in kids with severe multiple disabilities.
They tested the children . Most could not walk or talk. Teachers scored each child twice, four months apart.
The researchers compared Movakic scores with other motor tests and with real-life events like surgery or new braces.
What they found
Movakic scores lined up well with other motor tests (r = 0.50-0.71). That shows good construct validity.
After big motor events, scores moved 2-3 times more than in stable periods. The tool caught real change.
Internal consistency was high (α = 0.91). One teacher could give the test in 15 minutes.
How this fits with other research
Himuro et al. (2017) also validated a motor scale, the Japanese FMS, in cerebral palsy. Both studies used the same design: compare scores to a gold-standard measure.
Titlestad et al. (2019) checked reliability of the VB-MAPP for autism. Like Movakic, total scores were solid, but item-level noise was higher.
EbrahimiSani et al. (2020) and Mombarg et al. (2013) tried VR games to improve motor skills. Their positive results give you something to do after Movakic shows delay.
Why it matters
You now have a quick, free tool that spots motor change in kids who rarely speak or walk. Use Movakic at intake, after PT, or when a new brace arrives. One page, 15 minutes, no gear. If the score jumps, you have data to keep, drop, or adjust the plan.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Movakic is a newly developed instrument for measurement of motor abilities in children with severe multiple disabilities, with a satisfactory feasibility and content validity and good inter-observer and test-retest reliability. The objective of this study was to investigate its construct validity and responsiveness to change. Sixty children with severe multiple disabilities (mean age 7.7 years, range 2-16) were measured using Movakic six times during 18 months. Construct validity was assessed by correlating Movakic scores with expert judgment. In order to assess responsiveness, scores during 3-months intervals were compared (mean score-changes and intraclass correlations) during which some children experienced meaningful events influencing motor abilities and during which others experienced no such event. Forty-five percent of children had a lower cognitive development level than 6-month, 52% had Gross Motor Function Classification System level V and 37% had level IV. For 27 children all measurements were completed, six children dropped out. Construct validity was good (r=0.50-0.71). Responsiveness was demonstrated by significantly larger score changes after events than when such events did not occur. Movakic is a valid instrument for measuring motor abilities in children with severe multiple disabilities. Results suggest responsiveness to change in motor abilities after meaningful events.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2016 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2016.08.012