Tool to assess the groundstroke technique of preadolescent tennis players.

Objective: In this study, we develop a tool that can be used by tennis coaches to evaluate the groundstroke (forehand and backhand) technique of preadolescent tennis players. Methods: The participants of the study were 60 children (30 males and 30 females) aged 10-12 years, with at least two years of training in tennis. The Groundstroke Correction Checklist (GCC) was translated into Turkish by using a blind procedure. The Turkish translation was then evaluated by 15 coaches of the Turkish Tennis Federation who had at least a level-3 coaching license and more than five years of coaching experience. The technical components related to technique in the checklist were labeled as unimportant, important, and very important. Following this, the GCC was converted into a Groundstroke Technique Assessment Test Tool (GTATT) by a selection committee consisting of three experts, and its reliability and validity were assessed by using it in the field. Spearman's correlation was used to analyze the correlation (test-r test) between the technical evaluation scores assigned to the players by the tennis coaches based on the GTATT in the first and second weeks. Intra- and inter-rater reliability was used to analyze the overall scores of technical evaluations in the first and second weeks to assess the reliability of the scale used. We determined each player's number of years of playing experience (TPY), technical evaluation (TE), international tennis-level test score (ITN), I-cord classification order (ICCO), and the number of games won (GW) in a tournament organized among themselves and evaluated the correlations among these parameters by using Spearman's correlation analysis. Conclusion: A statistically high and significant correlation was observed between the technical evaluations of the players' forehand and backhand groundstrokes by the tennis coaches by using the GTATT in the first and second weeks (r > .90, p < .01). The analysis of the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the GTATT yielded excellent agreement between the technical observations of the three coaches of the players' forehand and backhand strokes in the first and second weeks.

Test-Retest Reliability of Common Behavioral Decision-Making Tasks: A Multi-Sample, Repeated Measures Study.

OBJECTIVE: Decision-making is responsible for the best and worst of human nature. The field of decision science has done much to elucidate the psychological process of decision-making, variables that affect decision-making, and outcomes of disadvantageous decision-making. However, understanding any psychological process requires creation of reliable measures. Few studies focus on the test-retest reliability of behavioral decision-making tasks despite their utility in repeated assessment batteries. METHOD: The present study examined the extent to which common behavioral decision-making tasks are reliable across time. Across two samples and two time points, participants completed multiple decision-making assessments. RESULTS: Results revealed moderate at best evidence of test-retest reliability across a 10-week interval in any of the tasks assessed. CONCLUSIONS: These findings raise large questions for the field of behavioral decision-making and the utility for tasks to track changes in decision-making across time in clinical populations.

Roles of Cognitive Function on Visual Field Reliability Indices among Glaucoma Patients.

This study reports the prevalence of cognitive impairment (CI) in patients attending a glaucoma outpatient clinic at a tertiary hospital. It also comprehensively assesses possible associations between CI and visual field (VF) reliability indices among glaucoma patients. The retrospective analysis included 1464 eyes from 746 subjects (mean age, 70.6 ± 11.9; 401 males and 345 females). CI was evaluated using the Mini-Cog test, revealing a suspected prevalence of 8.0% (60 out of 746) among the patients. After adjusting for various background parameters using a mixed effects regression model, an abnormal Mini-Cog score was linked to higher false negative (FN) (p = 0.0034) and false positive (FP) (p = 0.0051) but not fixation loss (FL) (p = 0.82). Among the Mini-Cog components, a lower word recall test score was associated with higher FN (p < 0.0001), with a borderline difference in FP (p = 0.054) and no significant effect on FL (p = 0.09). Conversely, a lower clock drawing test score was associated with higher FP (p = 0.038), while FL (p = 0.49) and FN (p = 0.12) remained unaffected. These findings suggest that CI can impact the reliability of VF testing among glaucoma patients, highlighting the importance of assessing cognitive function in glaucoma care.

Reliability and Validity of the Elkins Hypnotizability Scale within a Clinical Sample.

Hypnotherapy is used in clinical settings to treat mental and physical health-related conditions. Hypnotic response can be measured through hypnotizability scales to help interventionists personalize treatment plans to suit the patients' individualized hypnotic abilities. Examples of these scales are the Elkins Hypnotizability Scale (EHS) and the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C (SHSS:C). According to the previous literature, these scales have good discriminating ability and internal consistency (α = 0.85) in collegiate samples, but the psychometric properties of the EHS for a targeted clinical population have not been determined yet. This study assessed said properties, and results showed adequate reliability of the EHS in a targeted clinical sample and strong convergent validity of the EHS to the SHSS:C. The authors conclude that the EHS is a strong and useful measure of hypnotizability that is pleasant, safe, brief, and sensible to individualities in hypnotic ability found in diverse clinical samples.

Reliability of individual differences in distractor suppression driven by statistical learning.

A series of recent studies has demonstrated that attentional selection is modulated by statistical regularities, even when they concern task-irrelevant stimuli. Irrelevant distractors presented more frequently at one location interfere less with search than distractors presented elsewhere. To account for this finding, it has been proposed that through statistical learning, the frequent distractor location becomes suppressed relative to the other locations. Learned distractor suppression has mainly been studied at the group level, where individual differences are treated as unexplained error variance. Yet these individual differences may provide important mechanistic insights and could be predictive of cognitive and real-life outcomes. In the current study, we ask whether in an additional singleton task, the standard measures of attentional capture and learned suppression are reliable and stable at the level of the individual. In an online study, we assessed both the within- and between-session reliability of individual-level measures of attentional capture and learned suppression. We show that the measures of attentional capture, but not of distractor suppression, are moderately stable within the same session (i.e., split-half reliability). Test-retest reliability over a 2-month period was found to be moderate for attentional capture but weak or absent for suppression. RT-based measures proved to be superior to accuracy measures. While producing very robust findings at the group level, the predictive validity of these RT-based measures is still limited when it comes to individual-level performance. We discuss the implications for future research drawing on inter-individual variation in the attentional biases that result from statistical learning.

Utility of the Teacher Behavior Checklist beyond Psychology Majors: Replication with Brazilian Physical Education Students / Utilidad del Teacher Behavior Checklist más allá de la psicología: replicación con estudiantes brasileños de educación física

Abstract The Teacher Behavior Checklist (TBC) is a worldwide valued instrument to measure teachers' performance. Nonetheless, the studies about TBC in Brazil are still scarce, with samples mainly composed of psychology and civil engineering students. The aim of this study was to replicate the research by Keeley et al. (2010) to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the TBC with a new sample. Participants were 107 undergraduates from physical education courses from a Brazilian public university. Participants used the TBC to evaluate three types of teachers: the worst they had ever had, a regular one, and the best one. The order of evaluation of teacher types did not interfere with the response patterns, but as expected, statistically significant differences were found among the three types of teachers. Additionally, the two-factor model of the TBC was confirmed through Confirmatory Factor Analysis, providing additional evidence of construct validity. However evidence to advocate in favor of a one-factor solution was also found. McDonald's Omega results provided evidence of reliability. These findings support the use of TBC in the formative evaluation of teachers in Brazil.

Resumen The Teacher Behavior Checklist (TBC) es un instrumento valorado en todo el mundo para medir el desempeño de los profesores. Sin embargo, los estudios sobre el TBC en Brasil siguen siendo escasos, con muestras compuestas principalmente por estudiantes de psicología e ingeniería civil. El objetivo de este estudio fue replicar la investigación de Keeley et al. (2010) para evaluar las propiedades psicométricas de la versión brasileña del Teacher Behavior Checklist (TBC) con una nueva muestra. Participaron 107 estudiantes de educación física de una universidad pública brasileña. Los participantes utilizaron el TBC para evaluar tres tipos de profesores: el peor que hayan tenido, uno regular y el mejor. El orden de evaluación de los tipos de docentes no interfirió con los patrones de respuesta, pero como se esperaba, encontramos diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los tres tipos de docentes. Además, el modelo de dos factores del TBC se confirmó a través de un análisis factorial confirmatorio, proporcionando evidencia adicional de validez de la construcción. No obstante, también encontramos evidencia para abogar a favor de una solución de un factor. Los resultados del Omega de McDonald indicaron evidencia de confiabilidad. Estos hallazgos apoyan el uso de TBC en la evaluación formativa de los docentes en Brasil.

Validity and reliability of the Polish Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (PMDS-16) and its short form (PMDS-5).

Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) defines excessive use of fantasy, which replaces human interaction and/or interferes with academic, interpersonal, or vocational functioning. This study tests psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (PMDS-16) and a short 5-item version derived from it (PMDS-5), and their capacity to screen for MD. The relationship between MD, resilience and the quality of life was also explored. Validity and reliability were examined in a sample of 491 participants in nonclinical (n = 315) and mixed-clinical (n = 176) groups who completed the tests online. The exploratory factor analysis with principal component analysis method of parameter estimation without rotation confirmed a one-factor solution of both instruments. Reliability of both versions was corroborated by Cronbach's alpha coefficient (PMDS-16: >.941; PMDS-5: >.931). The cutoff score maximizing sensitivity and specificity for MD was 42 in both instruments, but the short version had better discriminating properties. People who identified themselves as maladaptive daydreamers in comparison to those who did not had significantly higher scores in both instruments. Maladaptive daydreamers also had lower quality of life in the psychological and social relationships domains and poorer resilience. Both PMDS-16 and PMDS-5 proved to have satisfactory psychometric properties. They have similar psychometric properties, although PMDS-5 has better discriminating power and can be used effectively for the screening of MD.

The French MBAA2 sentence recognition in noise test for cochlear implant users.

OBJECTIVE: The "Marginal benefit from acoustic amplification" version 2 (MBAA2) sentence test has been used in France in the routine evaluation of cochlear implant (CI) users for 20 years. Here we present four studies that characterise and validate the test, and compare it with the French matrix sentence test. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: An analytic method was developed to obtain speech recognition threshold in noise (SNR50) from testing at a fixed signal to noise ratios (SNRs). Speech recognition was measured at several fixed SNRs in 18 normal-hearing listeners and 15 CI listeners. Then, the test-retest reliability of the MBAA2 was measured in an additional 15 CI listeners. Finally, list equivalence was evaluated in eight CI listeners. RESULTS: The MBAA2 test produced lower SNR50s and SNR50s were obtained in more CI listeners than with the French matrix test. For the MBAA2, the standard deviation of test-retest differences in CI listeners was around 1 dB SNR. Three lists had deviant difficulty and nine low item-to-total correlations. CONCLUSIONS: We propose to reduce the number of MBAA2 test lists to reduce variability. The MBAA2 test has high test-retest reliability for percent correct and SNR50, and is suitable for the assessment of cochlear implant patients.

A novel physical functioning test to complement subjective questionnaires in chronic low back pain assessments.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Lifting disability commonly affects patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and may not correlate with the existing lifting-related physical assessment tests, such as the loaded forward reach (LFR) test. PURPOSE: The Lift and Place (LAP) test was developed to assess lifting disability in CLBP based on known risk factors. The LAP test was compared with established physical assessment test, including the LFR test and self-reported disability questionnaires. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: This cross-sectional study measured self-reported disability questionnaires along with LAP and other physical assessment test results PATIENT SAMPLE: Eighty three CLBP and 82 asymptomatic participants aged 18 to 55 with normal BMI according to WHO classification. OUTCOME MEASURES: Oswestry disability index (ODI), Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ), Numerical Pain Rating Scale, Trunk Extensor Endurance test, 5 Repetition Sit-To-Stand test, LAP and LFR test. METHODS: Physical assessment test scores were compared between the two groups. The correlation of assessment test scores with ODI and RMDQ in patients with CLBP was calculated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to calculate the area under the curve (AUC) of each assessment tests. Assessment tests, ODI, and RMDQ were measured twice for CLBP patients on separate days to calculate the test-retest intraclass correlation (ICC) reliability. Two researchers scored the assessment tests independently to calculate the inter-rater ICC. RESULTS: Patients with CLBP were slower in the LAP test (CLBP vs asymptomatic: 21.6±4.9 s vs 18.6±3.6 s) and had shorter reach in the LFR test (CLBP vs asymptomatic: 33.6±6.0 cm vs 36.3±6.6 cm). The LAP was correlated with both ODI (r=0.418) and RMDQ (r=0.390), while the LFR was not. In the ROC analysis, the LAP and LFR bore AUCs of 0.685 and 0.379, respectively. Their test-retest ICCs were 0.913 and 0.858, and their inter-rater ICCs were 0.997 and 0.969, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The LAP test demonstrated higher reliability and significant correlation with the ODI and RMDQ, indicating its potential as performance assessment for lifting disability in CLBP. Further studies should investigate the use of LAP and other physical assessments for rapid CLBP screening.

Temporal Stability of the Zulliger Test in Brazilian Adults / Estabilidade Temporal do Teste de Zulliger em Adultos Brasileiros / Estabilidad Temporal del Test de Zulliger en Adultos Brasileños

Abstract The reliability of a test obtained over time is an indispensable measure to ensure the use of the instrument. This study aims to explore the temporal stability of the Zulliger test in Brazilian adults. A total of 20 participants, aged 18 to 59 years, answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Zulliger in Comprehensive System (ZCS). Data collection took place from 2009 to 2019 (Test) and in 2021 (Retest). ANOVA did not show differences between the values of 90 (99%) ZCS variables analyzed between test and retest; 68% of the variables showed agreement between 0.40 and 1.00, and 18%. Reflex responses; human movement, animal movement; weighted sum of color responses; sum of animal+inanimate movements; mixed determinants; art and clouds contents; Responses to card I; felt stimulation; cooperative movement; sum of critical special codes; degree of control and stress tolerance denoted high and excellent stability levels intraclass correlation coeficiente (ICC≥0,70). The ZCS demonstrates temporal stability, reliability, and psychometric properties that support its safe use.

Resumo A fidedignidade de um teste obtida ao longo do tempo é uma medida indispensável para assegurar o uso dos instrumentos. Este estudo teve por objetivo explorar a estabilidade temporal do teste de Zulliger em adultos brasileiros. Vinte participantes, entre 18 e 59 anos de idade, responderam formulário de dados sociodemográficos e o Zulliger no Sistema Compreensivo (ZSC). A coleta de dados ocorreu de 2009 a 2019 (teste) e em 2021 (reteste). A ANOVA não mostrou diferenças entre os valores de 90 (99%) variáveis do ZSC analisadas entre o teste e reteste; 68% das variáveis apresentaram concordância entre 0,40 e 1,00 e 18%. Respostas reflexo; movimento humano, movimento animal; soma de cor ponderada; soma de movimentos animal+inanimado; determinantes mistos; conteúdos Arte e nuvem; Respostas para cartão I, estimulação sentida; movimento cooperativo; soma códigos especiais críticos; grau de controle e tolerância ao estresse denotaram níveis de estabilidade alto e excelente Coeficiente de Correlação Intraclasse (ICC≥0,70). O ZSC demonstra estabilidade temporal, confiabilidade e propriedades psicométricas que respaldam o seu uso com segurança.

Resumen La confiabilidad de una prueba realizada a lo largo del tempo es una medida necesaria para asegurar el uso del instrumento. El objetivo de este estudio fue explorar la estabilidad temporal de la prueba de Zulliger en adultos brasileños. Veinte participantes, con edades entre 18 y 59 años, respondieron un formulario de datos sociodemográficos y el Zulliger en el Sistema Comprensivo (ZSC). La recolección de datos tuvo lugar de 2009 a 2019 (test) y en 2021 (retest). ANOVA no mostró diferencias entre los valores de 90 (99%) variables ZSC analizadas entre test y retest; El 68% de las variables mostró acuerdo entre 0,40 y 1,00, y 18%. Respuestas reflejo; respuestas de movimiento humano y animal, suma ponderada de color, suma de movimiento animal+inanimado; determinantes mixtos; Arte y contenido en la nube; Respuestas a la Tarjeta I; estimulación sentida; movimiento cooperativo; suma códigos especiales críticos; grado de control y tolerancia al estrés denotaron niveles de estabilidad altos y excelentes Coeficiente de correlación intraclase (ICC≥0,70). El ZSC demuestra estabilidad temporal, confiabilidad y propiedades psicométricas que respaldan su uso seguro.

Measuring the Effect of Using a Borderline Students' Characteristics Model on Reliability of Objective Structured Clinical Examination.

Defining borderline group is a crucial step when applying standard setting methods in objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). However, it is the most challenging and demanding task. This study aimed to measure the effect of using a model describing characteristics of borderline students on the reliability and metrics of OSCE. This model was adopted from a qualitative study based on conducted semi-structured interviews with experienced raters. The model identifies several themes categorized under four items which are gathering patient information, examining patients, communicating with patients, and general personal characteristics. In the current study, two groups of evaluators were investigated: one as the experimental group that received orientation about the used model and the other as the control group that did not receive any orientation. We applied the model in two mirrored OSCE circuits. Using the model enhanced raters' global rating. Consequently, the cut scores between the two OSCE circuits were different, and the examination reliability and quality metrics were improved.

Validity evidence for the Neuropsychological Test for the Assessment of Visuospatial Binding: a working memory test / Evidências de validade do Teste Neuropsicológico para Avaliação do Binding Visuoespacial: um teste de memória operacional / Evidencias de validez del Test Neuropsicológico para la Evaluación de Binding Visuoespacial: un test de memoria operativa

The Neuropsychological Test for the Assessment of Visuospatial Binding (TNABV) was developed to measure the Working Memory binding for object-location features. This study aimed to provide validity evidence related to the content and internal structure of the TNABV. To investigate the evidence based on internal structure, the sample was composed of 1173 people. Participants were between 18 and 95 years of age. In order to investigate the content-related validity evidence, a judgment was performed through the analysis of seven experts. The data analysis was carried out through exploratory factor analysis, the Internal Consistency Content Validity Index (CVI). The result suggested a one-dimensional model with an explained variation of 41.78% and Cronbach's alpha of .82. The total CVI showed an agreement of .98. The findings indicated that the psychometric properties evaluated in the TNABV are adequate.(AU)

O Teste Neuropsicológico para Avaliação do Binding Visuoespacial (TNABV) foi desenvolvido para avaliar o binding da memória operacional para os recursos de objeto-localização. Este estudo investigou as evidências de validade relacionadas ao conteúdo e estrutura interna do TNABV. Para realizar as evidências baseadas na estrutura interna, a amostra foi composta por 1173 pessoas. Os participantes tinham entre 18 e 95 anos. Para investigar a validade das evidências baseadas no conteúdo, foi realizado um julgamento pela análise de sete especialistas. A análise dos dados foi realizada por meio de análise fatorial exploratória, Índice de Confiabilidade e Validade de Conteúdo (IVC). O resultado sugeriu um modelo unidimensional com uma variação explicada de 41,78% e o alfa de Cronbach de 0,82. O IVC total mostrou uma concordância de 0,98. Os achados indicaram que as propriedades psicométricas avaliadas no TNABV são adequadas.(AU)

El Test Neuropsicológico para la Evaluación de Binding Visuoespacial (TNABV) se desarrolló para evaluar el binding de la memoria operativa para los recursos de objeto-localización. Este estudio investigó las evidencias de validez relacionadas con el contenido y la estructura interna del TNABV. Para explorar las evidencias basadas en la estructura interna, la muestra se compuso por 1173 personas. Los participantes tenían entre 18 y 95 años. Para investigar la validez de las evidencias basadas en el contenido se realizó un juicio mediante la revisión de siete expertos. El análisis de los datos se ejecutó utilizando el análisis factorial exploratorio, el Índice de Confiabilidad y la Validez de Contenido (CVI). El resultado sugirió un modelo unidimensional con una variación explicada del 41,78% y un alfa de Cronbach de 0.82. El CVI total mostró una concordancia de 0,98. Los hallazgos indicaron que las propiedades psicométricas evaluadas en el TNABV son adecuadas.(AU)

3D optical scanning as an objective and reliable tool for volumetry of the foot and ankle region.

BACKGROUND: Edema development of the foot and ankle region should be evaluated by an objective measurement. We hypothesized, that 3D optical scanning of this region can serve as an alternative to clinically established measurement techniques. METHODS: Two investigators determined the volume by 3D optical scanning and the figure-of-eight method in a random order at 2 separate time points. Plots were created and ICCs were calculated for determination of reliability. The Pearson correlation coefficient served as a measure of the association between both measures. RESULTS: 40 healthy volunteers with mean age of 28.3±9.9 years underwent four sequences of measurements. The inter- and intraobserver reliability of both methods was excellent with high intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC 3,1). A strong correlation (r=0.96, P<0.001) between measured ankle volumes was noted. CONCLUSION: 3D optical scanning turned out to be more reliable than the figure-of-eight method in a preclinical set-up. A clinical use should be aimed at.

Figural Creativity Test: Initial Investigation for Use in Adolescents and Adults / Teste de Criatividade Figural: Investigação Inicial para Uso em Adolescentes e Adultos / Prueba de Creatividad Figural: Investigación Inicial para su Uso en Adolescentes y Adultos

Abstract As part of an investigation into the psychometric qualities of the Children's Figural Creativity Test (TCFI) for adolescents and adults, the research examined factor analysis, precision, and influence of gender and educational level variables. The sample consisted of 309 individuals (M = 33.35 years; SD = 22.04), 166 females and three levels of education, who filled out the aforementioned instrument. During the exploratory factor analysis, four factors were identified: the elaboration factor (F1), the external aspects factor (F2), cognitive aspects factor (F3), and emotional aspects factor (F4). Precision of the instrument was ω = 0.776. We found differences in F1 and total score favoring females, in all factors and in total creativity, favoring the group with the highest education. Prior to using the instrument with individuals older than those considered in the children's version of the test, studies investigating other psychometric characteristics are advised.

Resumo Buscando investigar as qualidades psicométricas do Teste de Criatividade Figural Infantil para uso em adolescentes e adultos, o presente estudo apresenta os resultados da análise fatorial, precisão e influência das variáveis gênero e nível de escolaridade nos resultados. A amostra foi composta por 309 participantes (M = 33,35 anos; DP = 22,04), 166 do sexo feminino e diferentes níveis de escolaridade. A análise fatorial exploratória indicou a existência de quatro fatores: elaboração (F1), aspectos externos (F2), aspectos cognitivos (F3) e aspectos emocionais (F4). A precisão do instrumento foi ω= 0,776. Diferenças foram encontradas no F1 e na pontuação total, a favor do sexo feminino; e em todos os fatores e na criatividade total, a favor do grupo com maior nível de escolaridade. Estudos voltados à investigação de outras qualidades psicométricas são recomendados antes do uso do instrumento em participantes com maior idade do que a contemplada na versão infantil do teste.

Resumen Buscando investigar las cualidades psicométricas del Test de Creatividad Figurativa Infantil (TCFI) para uso en adolescentes y adultos, el presente estudio presenta los resultados del análisis factorial, precisión e influencia de las variables género y nivel educativo. La muestra estuvo conformada por 309 participantes (M = 33,35 años; DT = 22,04), 166 del sexo femenino y tres niveles de instrucción, que respondieron al mencionado instrumento. El análisis factorial exploratorio indicó cuatro factores: elaboración (F1), aspectos externos (F2), aspectos cognitivos (F3) y aspectos emocionales (F4). La precisión del instrumento fue ω = 0,776. Se encontraron diferencias en F1 y puntuación total a favor del sexo femenino y en todos los factores y en creatividad total, a favor del grupo con mayor nivel educativo. Se recomiendan estudios dirigidos a investigar otras cualidades psicométricas antes de utilizar el instrumento en participantes de mayor edad que la contemplada en la versión infantil del test.

An evaluation of the reliability of the foot-tapping test in a healthy sample.

The foot-tapping test (FTT) can be used to assess upper motor neuron dysfunction in clinical populations. However, relatively little is known regarding the reliability or normative values of the FTT in either healthy or clinical populations. Although several different FTT methods have been used, no study to date has demonstrated the reliability or validity of FTT by comparing it across several different counting methods in healthy persons. This unfortunately limits its usefulness in medicine and research. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to examine the reliability and validity of the FTT in healthy individuals to determine its usefulness and to make recommendations for its implementation in clinical populations. Furthermore, the concurrent validity and reliability of using a force plate as an objective measure of foot-taps was considered. DESIGN: Thirty-eight healthy individuals had their foot-tapping assessed using Live, Force Plate, and Video Counting methods over four separate visits. METHODS: Participants were seated as per previous FTT recommendations and asked to tap their foot in 10-second intervals while the number of taps was counted via Live, Video, and Force Plate counters. This was done with both legs, with shoes ON and OFF, and repeated over four separate visits. RESULTS: Despite significant differences between repeat trials for Force Plate and Video Counts (∼2 foot-taps, p < 0.01), test-retest reliability was high for all three methods (Pearson's R > 0.90). Dominant foot trials were higher (∼2 foot-taps, p < 0.05) than Non-dominant for all three counts. When performed with shoes ON, counts were higher (∼2 foot-taps, p < 0.05) than OFF for the Live and Force Plate counts. Reliability between visits was high (ICC > 0.80) and only the Video count was significantly lower for Visit 1 (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Given findings, the authors suggest using a Force Plate counting method and have compiled a list of suggestions for future implementation of the FTT.

Reliability of Alpine Ski Racing-Specific Field Test: The 80s-Slide-Test.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the test-retest reliability of the 80s-slide-test in well-trained alpine ski racers. METHODS: The sample consisted of 8 well-trained alpine ski racers (age = 17.8 [0.7] y old; height = 1.80 [0.09] m; body mass = 72.1 [9.5] kg) who performed a lab-based maximal graded test on cycle ergometer and three 80s-slide-tests in 4 separate sessions. The 80s-slide-test consisting of maximal push-offs performed for 80s on a 8-ft slide board. Oxygen uptake (V˙O2) and heart rate (HR) were recorded continuously. Blood lactate ([La]b) was determined immediately prerun, followed by 3 minutes postrun. Three minutes after the completion of the session, the subjects were asked to indicate their rate of perceived exertion using Borg scale ranging from 6 to 20. Total and every 10s mean push-offs number were assessed by camera. Typical errors of measurement, intraclass correlation coefficients, and smallest worthwhile change were calculated. RESULTS: The 80s-slide-test showed strong reliability for total push-offs number, V˙O2peak, V˙O2mean, HRpeak, and HRmean. Δ[La]b, fatigue index, and the rate of perceived exertion were moderately reliable. CONCLUSION: The 80s-slide-test is a reliable test for well-trained alpine ski racers and can be used easily by trainers.

Reproducibility and discriminant validity of the Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test in healthy and painful populations.

OBJECTIVE: This investigation measured the reproducibility and discriminant validity of the Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test (PSET) on painful and non-painful populations. DESIGN: Reliability and validity study. SETTING: Laboratory setting. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty subjects (male = 11; female = 19). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Time to failure (TTF) was the primary outcome measure to determine reliability of the PSET. Discriminant validity identified with receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves utilized TTF separately in men and women since they used different loads. RESULTS: There were 25/30 subjects (painful = 12; non-painful = 13) tested a second time. ICC, SEM, and MDC90 ranged respectively from 0.77, 13.1 s, 30.6 s in the painful group to 0.85, 7.3 s, 17 s in the non-painful group. The male ROC curve AUC was 0.833 with 47 s resulting in the best combination of sensitivity = 0.833, and specificity = 0.80. The female ROC curve AUC was 0.633 with 46 s resulting in the best combination of sensitivity = 0.600 and specificity = 0.889 at 46 s. CONCLUSION: The PSET is a reliable way to measure shoulder girdle muscular endurance. These data suggest that the PSET discriminates painful and non-painful individuals better in men compared to women.

Brief communication: Reliability of the D-KEFS Tower Test in samples of children and adolescents in Ecuador.

The Tower Test in the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) is a widely-used assessment of executive function in young people. It is similar to other Towers of Hanoi type tasks, for which doubts regarding the reliability of the test have been previously raised. Here, we present data on the internal consistency, unidimensionality, and test-retest reliability of the D-KEFS Towers Test based on an Ecuadorian sample of 264 children and adolescents. In general, the Tower Test appeared to have poor reliability. This may be caused by the combination of very simple and more difficult trials within the same assessment. Nevertheless, one measure, the Time-Per-Move Ratio, appeared to be sufficiently reliable for clinical or research use, and neuropsychological studies have suggested that the Time-Per-Move Ratio may also be the performance measure most sensitive to neurological impairment.

Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the active-emphatic listening scale.

BACKGROUND: Active-emphatic listening is active listening that focuses on empathy. The Active-Empathic Listening Scale (AELS) is a self-report scale comprising three dimensions: sensing, processing, and responding. However, translated versions are not available for languages used in Asian countries, such as Japanese. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate and report on the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the AELS. METHODS: After the scale was back translated, 728 Japanese university students completed the Japanese AELS. Of those participants, 566 responded to Japanese versions of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and Encode, Decode, Control, and Regulate Model (ENDCOREs) for validation, and the Japanese AELS was administered again to 59 participants after 3 weeks, to determine test-retest reliability. This study used confirmatory factor analysis to validate the scale's three-factor structure. To evaluate reliability, Cronbach's α, McDonald's omega, and intra-class correlation coefficient were calculated. To examine validity, correlation and partial correlation analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Results indicated that the factor structure of the Japanese AELS was equivalent to that of the original AELS (CFI = .942, TLI = .920, RMSEA = .055). The scale had adequate internal reliability (sensing: α = .64/ ω = .72, processing: α = .61/ ω = .62, responding: α = .68/ ω = .77, total: α = .82/ ω = .86) and a moderate test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient (sensing: .53, 95%Cl [.31-.69], processing: .48, 95%Cl [.26-.65], responding: .52, 95%Cl [.31-.68], total: .51, 95%Cl [.29-.68]). Criterion-related validity was demonstrated by the positive correlation between the Japanese AELS and other measures (IRI and ENDCOREs). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the validity of the Japanese AELS is relatively comparable to the original AELS; however, it will be necessary to determine potential cultural concerns by comparing Japanese culture and other Asian cultures in future studies. The Japanese AELS is expected to be used to measure the outcomes of active listening training in Japan.

Comparing Monitoring Results of Two Motion Trackers for Geriatric Patients.

BACKGROUND: Fitbit and Garmin motion tracker devices are highly used in research. The validity and reliability of these devices is proven for healthy adults between 18 and 64. OBJECTIVES: Comparing data output of two devices. METHODS: Observational case study on a test track and in the domestic environment of a 80- year-old female multimorbide geriatric patient. RESULTS: High significant correlation of the devices on the test track [r=.776, p≤.001, Bca-CI-95% (.618;.874), N=33], but significant different in the domestic environment over time (z=4.840, p≤.001). CONCLUSION: The dominant/non-dominant body side and further sources of error may play a role in monitoring steps with these devices.