The reliability of two visual motor integration tests used with children

Occupational therapists often assess the visual motor integration (VMI) skills of children and young people. It is important that therapists use tools with strong psychometric properties. This study aims to examine the reliability of 2 VMI tests. Ninety-two children between the ages of 5 and 17 years (response rate of 31%) completed 2 VMI tests: the Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration (DTVMI) and the Full Range Test of Visual Motor Integration (FRTVMI). Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to examine the internal consistency of the 2 VMI tests whereas Spearman's rho correlation was used to evaluate the test–retest reliability, intrarater reliability, and interrater reliability of the 2 VMI tests. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the DTVMI was .82 and .72 for the FRTVMI. The test–retest reliability coefficient was .73 (p = .000) for the DTVMI and .49 (p = .05) for the FRTVMI. The interrater correlation was significant for both the DTVMI at .94 (p = .000) and FRTVMI at .68 (p = .001). The DTVMI intrarater reliability correlation result was .90 (p = .000) and the FRTVMI at .85 (p = .000). Overall, the DTVMI exhibited a higher level of reliability than the FRTVMI. Both VMI tests appear to exhibit reasonable levels of reliability and are recommended for use with children and young people.

Comparing the small sample properties of two break Lagrange Multiplier unit root tests

In this note, we examine the size and power properties and the break date estimation accuracy of the Lee and Strazicich (LS, 2003) two break endogenous unit root test, based on two different break date selection methods: minimising the test statistic and minimising the sum of squared residuals (SSR). Our results show that the performance of both Models A and C of the LS test are superior when one uses the minimising SSR procedure.

Static and dynamic tests for damage identification of a slab-girder structure

Slab-girder bridges are widely used in Australia. The shear connection between reinforced concrete slab and steel girder plays an important role in composite action. In order to test the suitability and efficiency of various vibration-based damage identification methods to assess the integrity of the structure, a scaled composite bridge model was constructed in the laboratory. Some removable shear connectors were specially designed and fabricated to link the beam and slab that were cast separately. In this test, two static loads were acted in the 1/3 points of the structure. In the first stage, dynamic test was conducted under different damage scenarios, where a number of shear connectors were removed step by step. In the second stage, the static load is increased gradually until concrete slab cracked. Static tests were conducted continuously to monitor the deflection and loading on the beam. Dynamic test was carried out before and after concrete cracking. Both static and dynamic results can be used to identify damage in the structure.

Size and power properties of structural break unit root tests

In this article, we compare the small sample size and power properties of a newly developed endogenous structural break unit root test of Narayan and Popp (NP, 2010) with the existing two break unit root tests, namely the Lumsdaine and Papell (LP, 1997) and the Lee and Strazicich (LS, 2003) tests. In contrast to the widely used LP and LS tests, the NP test chooses the break date by maximizing the significance of the break dummy coefficient. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we show that the NP test has better size and high power, and identifies the structural breaks accurately. Power and size comparisons of the NP test with the LP and LS tests reveal that the NP test is significantly superior.

Non-nested tests of a GDP-augmented Fama–French model versus a conditional Fama–French model in the Australian stock market

We extend Vassalou (2003) by conditioning the Fama–French model with the same macroeconomic variables used to construct a GDP factor. The motivation for doing so is to ascertain whether the ability of the GDP-augmented model to explain equity returns is actually due to news about future GDP growth or whether it is due to the macroeconomic conditioning variables used to construct the GDP factor. We compare the performance of a GDP-enhanced Fama–French model with the conditional Fama–French model using non-nested testing techniques. We find that the GDP-augmented model considerably underperforms the conditional version of the model.

Tests examining skill outcomes in sport: A systematic review of measurement properties and feasibility

Background
A high level of participant skill is influential in determining the outcome of many sports. Thus, tests assessing skill outcomes in sport are commonly used by coaches and researchers to estimate an athlete’s ability level, to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions or for the purpose of talent identification.

Objective
The objective of this systematic review was to examine the methodological quality, measurement properties and feasibility characteristics of sporting skill outcome tests reported in the peer-reviewed literature.

Data Sources
A search of both SPORTDiscus and MEDLINE databases was undertaken.

Study Selection
Studies that examined tests of sporting skill outcomes were reviewed. Only studies that investigated measurement properties of the test (reliability or validity) were included. A total of 22 studies met the inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Study Appraisal and Synthesis Methods
A customised checklist of assessment criteria, based on previous research, was utilised for the purpose of this review.

Results
A range of sports were the subject of the 22 studies included in this review, with considerations relating to methodological quality being generally well addressed by authors. A range of methods and statistical procedures were used by researchers to determine the measurement properties of their skill outcome tests. The majority (95 %) of the reviewed studies investigated test–retest reliability, and where relevant, inter and intra-rater reliability was also determined. Content validity was examined in 68 % of the studies, with most tests investigating multiple skill domains relevant to the sport. Only 18 % of studies assessed all three reviewed forms of validity (content, construct and criterion), with just 14 % investigating the predictive validity of the test. Test responsiveness was reported in only 9 % of studies, whilst feasibility received varying levels of attention.

Limitations
In organised sport, further tests may exist which have not been investigated in this review. This could be due to such tests firstly not being published in the peer-review literature and secondly, not having their measurement properties (i.e., reliability or validity) examined formally.

Conclusions
Of the 22 studies included in this review, items relating to test methodological quality were, on the whole, well addressed. Test–retest reliability was determined in all but one of the reviewed studies, whilst most studies investigated at least two aspects of validity (i.e., content, construct or criterion-related validity). Few studies examined predictive validity or responsiveness. While feasibility was addressed in over half of the studies, practicality and test limitations were rarely addressed. Consideration of study quality, measurement properties and feasibility components assessed in this review can assist future researchers when developing or modifying tests of sporting skill outcomes.