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Psychometric Validation of the Preschool Outcome Questionnaire: A Preschool Treatment Outcome Instrument

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Abstract

Developing normed treatment outcome measures is important to research addressing treatment effectiveness and to improved clinical care. The Preschool Outcome Questionnaire (POQ) is a new measure designed for use with preschool children aged two to six. Designed in collaboration with parents and clinicians, the POQ is brief, easy to administer, score and interpret. This study reports on the instrument’s psychometric evaluation, contains preliminary normative data, and provides a clinical cut-off and a reliable change index to facilitate clinical use of the instrument. Results show that the POQ has acceptable test–retest and internal reliability, concurrent validity and criterion validity. Importantly, results also show that the instrument is sensitive to clinically relevant change. Clinical implications are discussed as well as suggestions for further research.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Drs. Agnus M. Plenk and Douglas F. Goldsmith as well as the staff of the Children’s Center in Salt Lake City and Kerns Utah and the Salt Lake City CAP Head Start programs for their valuable contributions to the creation and validation of the POQ.

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Correspondence to David H. Barker.

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Barker, D.H., Lloyd, T.Q., Stewart, P.K. et al. Psychometric Validation of the Preschool Outcome Questionnaire: A Preschool Treatment Outcome Instrument. J Child Fam Stud 19, 504–515 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-009-9322-6

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