Search database
System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth (SOPLAY)
The System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth (SOPLAY) is based on momentary time sampling techniques in which systematic and periodic scans of individuals and contextual factors within pre-determined target areas are made. During a scan the activity of each individual is mechanically or electronically coded as Sedentary (lying down, sitting, or standing), Walking, or Very Active. Separate scans are made for females and males, and simultaneous entries are also made for time of day, temperature, area accessibility, area usability, presence of supervision, presence and...
School Physical Activity Policy Assessment (S-PAPA)
The S-PAPA uses open-ended, dichotomous, multichotomous, and checklist formatting and has 7 background items and three modules: (a) Physical Education (40 items); (b) Recess (27 items), and (c) Other Before, During, and After School Programs (15 items). Test-retest results suggest SPAPA items are reliable and can be useful in assessing PA policies in elementary schools (Lounsbery et al., 2011). Total administration time for all three modules is approximately 23 minutes.
Behaviors of Eating and Activity for Children’s Health: Evaluation System (BEACHES)
The Behaviors of Eating and Activity for Children’s Health: Evaluation System (BEACHES) is a direct observation system used to simultaneously record children’s physical activity and sedentary behaviors as well as related environmental characteristics and events. The physical activity codes have been validated using heart rate monitors and accelerometers, and the system can be used in homes, schools, and most settings where children might be found.The original system was developed within the framework of behavioral analysis and included coding for 10 separate dimensions. These dimensions...
Path Environment Audit Tool (PEAT)
To determine how physical characteristics of trails may influence use, reliable and valid audit tools are needed. The Path Environment Audit Tool (PEAT) was developed with design, amenity, and aesthetics/maintenance items. Two observers independently audited 185 trail segments at 6 Massachusetts facilities. GPS-derived items were used as a "gold standard." Kappa (k) statistics, observed agreement and ICCs were calculated to assess inter-observer reliability and validity. Fifteen of 16 primary amenity items had k-values > 0.49 ("moderate") and all had observed agreement > 81%. Seven...
Environmental Assessment of Public Recreation Spaces (EAPRS) Tool
See Author's guidebook for more detailed information.
Measuring Urban Design Qualities—An Illustrated Field Manual
Urban design qualities depend on physical features but are distinct from them. They reflect the general way in which people perceive and interact with the environment. The urban design qualities operationalized in this manual are:
• imageability
• enclosure
• human scale
• transparency
• complexity
Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT)
Prior to this, Autism was generally not detected before 3 years of age. As early intervention is vital, this instrument was designed to make detection possible from 18 months. The Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT) is administered by a health professional, both by asking the parent questions and directly observing and interacting with the child.
ALPHA Measure of Environmental Perceptions
Sjostrom and colleagues (2006) found that about two thirds of adults in the European Union do not get engage in enough physical activity to access the associated health benefits. Findings such as this have prompted researchers to investigate the environmental determinants of physical activity. Instruments have been developed to assess the suitability of environments worldwide for physical activity. The ALPHA Measure of Environmental Perceptions is designed for use in European settings. It is composed of 49 items centered around 9 themes: types of residences in your neighbourhood, ...
Children's Perceptions of Others' Depression Scale- Mother Version (CPOD-MV)
Research has shown that depression in mothers can have an adverse effect on the psychological functioning and development of their children (Goodman, 2007). The Children's Perception of Other's Depression Scale- Mother Version (CPOD-MV) is a 21 item measure that examines children's perceptions of the chronicity, severity, and impairment of their mother's depression. It also assesses whether they feel they are responsible for their mother's depression and whether they feel able to deal with their mother's depression.
Scores on the CPOD-MV have been found to be significantly...
