Background/Purpose Motor assessments are used in research, clinical, and practical settings. Accurate assessment of motor competence is critical for measuring development and diagnosing developmental delays Two widely used assessments of motor competence include the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2) and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2).
Method This study compared the performance of the TGMD-2 and the MABC-2 in children. Sixty-five children (M age = 6.7 yrs) completed the TGMD-2 and the MABC-2. The TGMD-2 includes two subscales: object control and locomotor. The MABC-2 includes three subscales: manual dexterity, aiming and catching, and balance.
Analysis/Results Raw scores for each assessment were converted to age and gender specific percentile rankings for analysis. A Pearson correlation indicated a significant relationship between the TGMD-2 and MABC-2 percentiles (r(63) = .47, p < .01). A paired samples t-test revealed a significant difference between the mean percentiles of the TGMD-2 and MABC-2, t(64) = 7.8, p < .01. Participants scored higher on the MABC-2 (M percentile = 42.2) compared to the TGMD-2 (M percentile = 17.2). A one-way ANOVA revealed no significant sex differences, indicating that boys and girls performed similarly on each assessment.
Conclusions Based on federal guidelines, the present sample would be classified as developmentally delayed according to the TGMD-2, but not the MABC-2. Differences in motor assessments should be considered when identifying delays and describing motor competence. The MABC-2 may be an appropriate measure of general motor competence; however, the TGMD-2 is better suited for specifically measuring motor skill competence.