The Development of a Scale on the Competence of Kindergartener during Physical Playing at a Kindergarten

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a pictorial scale on the competence of children during physical playing at a kindergarten and to examine its reliability.
Each of three domains, physical competence, peer acceptance and teacher acceptance, has 4 items for a total of 12 questions. These 12 items were depicted on 12 separate cards. The subjects consisted of 188 boys and 165 girls, who were 5 or 6 years old.
Factor analysis reveals a 2-factor solution. The first factor, physical acceptance, was defined by 5 items of peer and teacher acceptance. The second factor, physical competence, was defined by a total of 5 items in physical competence and teacher acceptance.
The reliability of the study was assessed by employing coefficient α that provides an index of internal consistency, and by the correlation between the initial test and a follow up test mesured after one month. The results revealed significant effects for the following factors.
•The first factor (physical acceptance) α=0.6869 r=0.5426
•The second factor (physical competence) α=0.6043 r=0.596
This scale shows a more basic relation with kindergarteners and their perceived physical competence because the result are based only on physical playing at a kindergarten. Therefore, from a cognitive point of view, further research in this area would discuss about the cognitive process of competence.