The validity and realibility study of Motor Skills Rating Scale

Aim of this study is to adapt Motor Skills Rating Scale into Turkish by doing reliability and validity studies. Taking into consideration of field experts' views and content of the scale, it was translated into Turkish as Literacy- Oriented Motor Skills Rating Scale. One of the quantitative research method, descriptive survey model was preferred for this study. Sample of the study is 368 primary school 1st grade children whose ages differ between 66-84 months. Maximum variation sampling method was chosen to select the participants. And according to this sampling method sixteen primary schools (seven of them are located in the center of the city and nine of them were located in villages) were determined. Personal Information Form, Motor Skills Rating Scale, Developmental Indicators for Assesment of Learning 4 and children's school reports were used as data collection tools. SPSS and LISREL were used to analyse the data. Analyses showed that Turkish version of MSRS has two factors (Fine Motor and Body Awareness) and sixty items. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were run to present the construct validity of the scale. Pearson correlation coefficient were calculated between MSRS and DIAL 4 scores to present the criterion validity. Total item and item reminder correlations, item discrimination, split half reliability test and Cronbach alpha were calculated to present the reliability of the scale. Descriptive analyses were run to present mean, standart deviation, lowest and highest scores of children. Children's literacy- oriented motor skills also examined according to their age and early childhood education status. Lastly, pearson correlation coefficient were calculated and multiple linear regression were run to present the role of motor skills in the beginning of the year to predict children's school reports at the end of the year. Analyses results showed that MSRS is a valid and reliable scale to assess Turkish children's literacy-oriented motor skills. Descriptive analyses results showed that children had high scores on the total of the scale and on the subdomains. Children's literacy-oriented motor skills differ significantly according to their age and early childhood education background. It was determined that children's literacy-oriented motor skills in the beginning of the year predict their Turkish and Math course scores at the end of the year. Lastly, suggestions for educators and researchers were presented according to the results.