Inter-Intra Rater Reliability, Construct and Discriminative Validity of Iranian Typically Developing Children Handwriting Speed Test (I-CHST)

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop an Iranian Hand writing Speed Test (I-CHST) for testing of Iranian students aged ۸-۱۲. To date, no  norms of handwriting speed have been published for hand-writing speed of the Iranian students. Methods: A sample of ۴۰۰ typically developing Iranian students across four age cohorts was recruited. Among those ۴۰۰ students ۵۰% were girls and ۵۰%  were boys. ۷۳% were studding at government schools and ۲۷% were from the private schools. ۷۹% were right handed and ۱۱% were left handed. The results showed that the handwriting speed assessment test has excellent inter-rater reliability (r=۱, P=۰.۰۰۰) and construct validity (r=۰.۷۹۸, P=۰.۰۰۰). Results: The findings showed that handwriting speed increases with age and the rate of increase was found to be greatest among Iranian children aged ۸-۱۲. It is also found that the girls aged ۱۱-۱۲ wrote faster than boys of the same age. Discussion: Based on this research, I-CHST was a valid and reliable test for testing the hand writing speed in Iranian children and it could be used for testing or intervention purposes by the therapists at clinics.

Keywords:

Handwriting speed , Typically developing Children , Occupational therapy , Test development