Jeffrey Arnold & Morgan Vaughan - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Jeffrey Arnold & Morgan Vaughan

Minnesota Handwriting Assessment Slide2

Key Characteristics

Purpose

To quantify selected aspects of young student’s handwriting

Used to support or reject teachers subjective judgment of poor quality or slow rate handwriting in students

Age

Second semester 1

st

graders and 2

nd

graders Slide3

Frame of Reference most likely

used guiding

selection of this tool

Biomechanical

Developmental

PEOSlide4

Bottom-Up Approach Slide5

Test Development and Standardization

Test development

Literature reviews

Consultation with teachers

Standardization sample

n

= 2,000

11 different states

Second semester 1

st

graders and 2

nd

graders Slide6

Domains

Rate

– how fast the child writes

Legibility

– how readable is a letter?

Form

– does the letter make the shape it is supposed to with all lines connect, and all straight lines straight, and curved lines curved.

Alignment

– does the letter rest within 1/16 above or below the base line?

Size

– how big or small the letters are?

Spacing

– how far apart or close together are the letters?Slide7

Psychometric Properties (Reliability)

Interrater

Pearson Correlation (.77-.88)

Intrarater

Fisher’s Z

Rate – 1.00

Legibility - .96

Form and spacing - .97

Alignment and Size - .99

Test-retest

Rate – 71%

Legibility 64%

Form – 75%

Alignment - 86%

Size – 82%

Spacing – 76% Slide8

Psychometric Properties – Validity

Content

Based on literature reviews and consultation with primary grade teachers

Construct

Manual does not explain but the explanation for content validity explains the construct as well

Criterion

Concurrent – measured using the Test of Visual Motor Skills

Strong association between first graders and students in special education with no OT, and for students receiving OT. Slide9

Measurement

concerns

Scores are subjective because they are based on the facilitator’s judgment of the handwriting.

Only inclusion criteria:

Child must be in 1

st

or 2

nd

grade

No exclusion criteriaSlide10

Test Length

10-15 minutes for total administration and scoring.

2.5 minutes to determine Rate

Child can finish sentence for legibility score. Slide11

Test Cost

Starter kit - $87.00

Manual

1

D’Nealian

pad

1 Manuscript pad

Each pad has 25 sheets

Clear 6 inch ruler

Print pads $25 –

package of 4 pads of 25 sheets for each

D’Nealian

and Manuscript print pads Slide12

Testing Procedures

Have student seated at a desk or table of appropriate height for their size

Lighting and ventilations should be appropriate and comfortable

Choose appropriate stimulus sheet (

D’Nealian

or Manuscript) depending on handwriting style practiced in the classroom.

Time the test for 2 ½ minutes to establish rate score.

If the student did not finish the sentence give additional time to finish the words to score the 5 quality categoriesSlide13

Test Items Slide14

Scoring Slide15

Scoring Interpretation

Like Peers Level

is equivalent to scoring in the top 75% of the range of students.

Somewhat Below Peers Level

is equivalent to the bottom 5%-25% of the range of students.

These students should be monitored to determine the underlying problem.

Well Below Peers Level

is equivalent to the bottom 5% of the range of students.

These students should be sent for an evaluation to determine the underlying problem.Slide16

Test results Slide17

Area(s) of occupation addressed

Education

MHA is best administered in a school setting.Slide18

Reference

Asher, I.E. (Ed.). (2014).

Asher’s Occupational Therapy Assessment

Tools

(4

th

ed.).

Bethesda,MD

: AOTA Press

.

Reisman

, J. (1999).

Minnesota

Handwriting Assessment.

San Antonio

, TX: Pearson.