Scheduled for Special Populations Free Communications, Saturday, April 16, 2005, 10:15 AM - 11:30 AM, Convention Center: E271a


Many-Faceted Rasch Calibration of TGMD-2

Miyoung Lee, University Of Illinois At Urba, Urbana, IL, Weimo Zhu, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL and Dale A. Ulrich, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Test of gross motor development (TGMD; Ulrich 1985) is a well-known motor function test and has been widely used in the physical education setting. Psychometric quality of TGMD was examined by the many-faceted Rasch model, an advanced measurement model, by Zhu and Cole (1996). In 2000, the TGMD-second edition (TGMD-2; Ulrich, 2000) was developed. The subtests in TGMD-2 are basically the same, with locomotor and object control tests. However, skip was removed from the locomotor skill subtest and the underhand roll was added into the object control subtest. In addition, some performance criteria under each skill tests were modified, switched in order of scoring, dropped or added. The purpose of this study is to examine the psychometric properties of TGMD-2 also using the many-faceted Rasch model. The data from TGMD-2 study (Ulrich, 2000) was used for the study, in which a total of 1,168 children were recruited with 587 boys and 581 girls in 3 through 10 years old. TGMD-2 is composed with two categories, locomotor and object control. The locomotor subtest and object control subtest includes 6 skill tests with a total of 24 performance criteria, respectively. Seven facets (i.e., examinee, gender, ethnicity, age, category, subtest, and item) were defined in the calibration using many-faceted Rasch mode and the FACETS computer program (Linacre, 1996) was used for the data analysis. The model and data fit was determined by infit and outfit fit statatiics (greater than 1.3 or less than .7). All subtests fit the model well according to infit statistics and only two subtests (Run 3 = 2.0 logits and Horizontal jump 3 =1.9 logits) were misfit according to outfit statistics. Overall, object control category (logit = 0.01) was more difficult than locomotor category (logit = -0.01). Overhand throw was the most difficult subtest and Kick was the easiest item within the object control category. Within the locomotor category, Horizontal jump was the most difficult and Run was the easiest subtest. Examinees ability ranged from -1.66 to 4.58 logits, which was slightly less spread than the ability range in TGMD-1 (-4.51 to 4.70 logits). Males and females had similar abilities. Similar psychometric properties were also observed in other facets. It is concluded that TGMD maintained its psychometrical quality. Suggestions and examples on how to apply TGMD-2 according to its Rasch calibfration will be provided and illustrated.
Keyword(s): adapted physical activity, assessment, measurement/evaluation

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