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Activity level: A comparison between actometer scores and observer ratings

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Abstract

Activity level of 13 boys (aged 9–13) from a day hospital program was measured using actometers in classroom, gym, woodshop, and group therapy settings. Ratings of Ss' activity were obtained from mothers using the Werry scale, and from six clinical staff familiar with the Ss using the Davids scale. It was predicted that activity ratings would have situationally specific relationships with actometermeasured activity level according to the rater's opportunities for observation. Comparisons between measures indicated that all clinical staff ratings correlated significantly with actometer activity in the classroom (r=.49 to r=.73), while mothers' ratings correlated significantly with actometer activity in gym (r=.67), and woodshop (r=.77), and with overall activity (r=.65), a combined measure derived from actometer scores in the four conditions tested. Five of six clinical staff raters showed significant interrater reliability (r=.58 to r=.83). Results are discussed in terms of their implications for solution of current problems in assessment of activity level and hyperactivity.

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Reference notes

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  2. Schulman, J. L., Suran, B. G., Kupst, M. J., & Stevens, T. M. Activity level: A review of theories and an experimental study. Manuscript submitted for publication, 1976.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Children's Memorial Hospital, USA

    Theodore M. Stevens, Mary Jo Kupst, Bernard G. Suran & Jerome L. Schulman

  2. Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois

    Theodore M. Stevens, Mary Jo Kupst, Bernard G. Suran & Jerome L. Schulman

Authors
  1. Theodore M. Stevens
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  2. Mary Jo Kupst
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  3. Bernard G. Suran
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  4. Jerome L. Schulman
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Additional information

This study was supported by Research Grant 000-9615-1204 from Children's Memorial Hospital and by a grant from the Margaret Etter Creche Learning Center. The authors would like to thank the clinical staff of the Division of Child Psychiatry, Children's Memorial Hospital, Day Hospital Program, for their assistance in data collection, and Ms. Jean Stiman for her help in reviewing and typing the manuscript.

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Stevens, T.M., Kupst, M.J., Suran, B.G. et al. Activity level: A comparison between actometer scores and observer ratings. J Abnorm Child Psychol 6, 163–173 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00919122

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00919122

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