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Exploring the Reliability and Validity of the Children's Computerized Physical Activity Reporter

Date: (Co-I) 3/13/07 - 2/28/09
Co-Investigators: Pearce, Patricia F., MPH, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC
Funding: U of U, College of Health, Research and Creative Grant Competition (Justine Reel, PI)

This proposal is to fund a COH-Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) for an NIH-funded (R21), descriptive, exploratory, traditional psychometric study to evaluate the reliability (test-retest) and validity (concurrent) of a self-report, computerized questionnaire (The Children's Computerized Physical Activity Reporter [C-CPAR]) for middle-school children. The study-dedicated GRA will provide continuity for the controlled, meticulous study execution that is critical for this foundational study, preparing for an R01 funding application (Fall 2008). Over two semesters, the GRA will be trained in all study procedures, and participate in recruitment, data collection, data management, data analysis, initial dissemination (publications, presentations, reports), and R01 grant application process. All activities will be in conjunction with the PI/Co-I.

The C-CPAR was developed with children, for children, in order to better match questionnaire content, structure, and overall design format to support children's needs for a precise activity report process. In this descriptive, exploratory, traditional psychometric study, the self-reported activity with the C-CPAR will be evaluated against a currently available paper-based questionnaire (PD-PAR) and accelerometry-measured activity. Research questions are: What are: test-retest and the validity coefficients for estimated activity energy expenditure measured with the C-CPAR; (b) how do the coefficients compare to those of the PD-PAR; (c) how do the coefficients compare to those of estimates derived with accelerometry (Actical®)? A stratified (grade and gender), random sample (N=180; 11-15 years-old) from one ethnically-diverse SLC school will be assigned to two-group crossover (controlling questionnaire-sequencing effect). Power estimate was based on Steiger,21 with Power and Precision.22 Measures include: demographics (self-reported), height (stadiometer), weight (calibrated balance-scale), C-CPAR (two 1-day reports), PDPAR (two 1-day reports), and Actical® accelerometer (5-day monitoring). Descriptives, Pearson correlations, and ANOVAs will be calculated.