Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration® Praxis Tests: Construct Validity and Internal Reliability

Zoe Mailloux; Patricia Grady-Dominguez; Anita Bundy; L Diane Parham; Susanne Smith Roley; Susan Wieland; Roseann C Schaaf

doi:10.5014/ajot.2023.050138

Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration® Praxis Tests: Construct Validity and Internal Reliability

Am J Occup Ther. 2023 Jul 1;77(4):7704345020. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2023.050138.

Authors

Zoe Mailloux¹, Patricia Grady-Dominguez², Anita Bundy³, L Diane Parham⁴, Susanne Smith Roley⁵, Susan Wieland⁶, Roseann C Schaaf⁷

Affiliations

¹ Zoe Mailloux, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; zoemailloux@gmail.com.
² Patricia Grady-Dominguez, PhD, OTR/L, is Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
³ Anita Bundy, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Chairperson, Department of Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
⁴ L. Diane Parham, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Professor Emerita, Occupational Therapy Graduate Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
⁵ Susanne Smith Roley, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Cofounder, Collaborative for Leadership in Ayres Sensory Integration (CLASI), Aliso Viejo, CA.
⁶ Susan Wieland, OTD, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist, Wade County Public Schools, Cary, NC.
⁷ Roseann C. Schaaf, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, and Director, Jefferson Autism Center of Excellence, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.

PMID: 37589659
DOI: 10.5014/ajot.2023.050138

Abstract

Importance: Assessment of praxis using valid and reliable measures is important for understanding factors affecting occupational participation.

Objective: To evaluate evidence of construct validity and internal reliability of data gathered with four newly developed praxis tests.

Design: Comparative descriptive design.

Setting: Homes, schools, and therapy practices across the United States.

Participants: A control group consisting of 163 children without any concerns or diagnoses and a case group of 145 children with sensory integration difficulties, ages 3 to 12 yr.

Outcomes and measures: Rasch analyses to evaluate construct validity, and Student's t tests to evaluate group differences.

Results: Total test scores and most item scores conformed to Rasch model expectations. Group differences were significant; the control group scored higher. Internal reliability was strong.

Conclusions and relevance: Findings support the validity and internal reliability of the four praxis tests. What This Article Adds: This study adds to the growing body of evidence for validity and reliability of the Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration® tests.

MeSH terms

Child
Humans
Occupational Therapy*
Reproducibility of Results
Schools