Is the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2nd edition a reliable instrument to measure motor performance in 3 year old children?
Movement ABC-2 gives steady scores for 3-year-olds, so use it and train your team to keep ratings tight.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Amore et al. (2011) checked if the Movement ABC-2 gives steady scores when 3-year-olds take it twice. They also checked if two testers would give the same score.
The kids were neurotypical. The team used simple statistics called ICC to see how close the scores stayed.
What they found
The test scores stayed very steady. Test-retest reliability was high. Inter-rater reliability was moderate.
In plain words, you can trust the Movement ABC-2 to show real motor skill level in 3-year-olds, but train your team so everyone scores the same way.
How this fits with other research
Parmar et al. (2014) found the DCD-Q-07 parent form misses most kids who need help. The form disagreed with the same Movement ABC-2 used here. The two papers do not clash; they just show a questionnaire is no swap for hands-on testing.
Wuang et al. (2009) got similar strong test-retest numbers with the BOT-2 in kids with ID. Both studies back the idea that full motor batteries, not short forms, give steady scores.
Brown (2019) warns the 14-item BOT-2 Brief Form is shaky. Taken together, the data say: use the full test or the Movement ABC-2, not shortcuts, when you need sound numbers.
Why it matters
If you test preschoolers, you now have proof the Movement ABC-2 is stable for 3-year-olds. Use it to spot delays, write goals, and show parents real change. Train at least two staff together and check that you both score within 1-2 points before you start. Skip parent-only checklists if you want to catch kids who truly need services.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Formal testing of 3 year old children is a new feature in the revised version of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (Movement ABC-2). Our study evaluated the reliability and explored the clinical applicability of the Movement ABC-2 Test in this young age group. A total of 50 typically children were given two trials of the test within a one to two week interval by two physical therapists: same assessor (n=28 children) and different assessors (n=22 children). Psychometric properties were evaluated by calculating internal consistency (Cronbach α), intra-class correlation (ICC), the standard error of measurement (SEM), the smallest detectable difference (SDD) and Kappa values for classification agreement. The results are promising for future implementation of the Movement ABC-2 in clinical practice. The children's performance was highly reproducible when tested by the same assessor (ICC .94) The SEM was 1.7 or 2.1 standard scores for 90% or 95% confidence intervals respectively, making the test sensitive enough to detect individual changes. If two different assessors tested the children the ICC was .76. In conclusion, the revised test can be applied to assess motor performance in typically developing 3-year old children. Future studies are needed to confirm if the same can be said for children with motor delays.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2011 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2011.01.031