Minnesota Handwriting Assessment Jeffrey Arnold Morgan Vaughan Key

Minnesota Handwriting Assessment Jeffrey Arnold & Morgan Vaughan

Key Characteristics �Purpose �To quantify selected aspects of young student’s handwriting �Used to support or reject teachers subjective judgment of poor quality or slow rate handwriting in students �Age �Second semester 1 st graders and 2 nd graders

Frame of Reference most likely used guiding selection of this tool �Biomechanical �Developmental �PEO

Bottom-Up Approach

Test Development and Standardization �Test development �Literature reviews �Consultation with teachers �Standardization sample �n = 2, 000 � 11 different states �Second semester 1 st graders and 2 nd graders

Domains �Rate – how fast the child writes �Legibility – how readable is a letter? �Form – does the letter make the shape it is supposed to with all lines connect, and all straight lines straight, and curved lines curved. �Alignment – does the letter rest within 1/16 above or below the base line? �Size – how big or small the letters are? �Spacing – how far apart or close together are the letters?

Psychometric Properties (Reliability) �Interrater �Pearson Correlation (. 77. 88) �Intrarater �Fisher’s Z �Rate – 1. 00 �Legibility -. 96 �Form and spacing -. 97 �Alignment and �Test-retest �Rate – 71% �Legibility 64% �Form – 75% �Alignment - 86% �Size – 82% �Spacing – 76%

Psychometric Properties – Validity �Content �Based on literature reviews and consultation with primary grade teachers �Construct �Manual does not explain but the explanation for content validity explains the construct as well �Criterion �Concurrent – measured using the Test of Visual Motor Skills �Strong association between first graders and students in special education with no

Measurement concerns �Scores are subjective because they are based on the facilitator’s judgment of the handwriting. �Only inclusion criteria: �Child must be in 1 st or 2 nd grade �No exclusion criteria

Test Length � 10 -15 minutes for total administration and scoring. � 2. 5 minutes to determine Rate �Child can finish sentence for legibility score.

Test Cost �Starter kit - $87. 00 �Manual � 1 D’Nealian pad � 1 Manuscript pad �Each pad has 25 sheets �Clear 6 inch ruler �Print pads $25 – �package of 4 pads of 25 sheets for each D’Nealian and Manuscript print pads

Testing Procedures �Have student seated at a desk or table of appropriate height for their size �Lighting and ventilations should be appropriate and comfortable �Choose appropriate stimulus sheet (D’Nealian or Manuscript) depending on handwriting style practiced in the classroom. �Time the test for 2 ½ minutes to establish rate score. �If the student did not finish the sentence give additional time to finish the words to score the 5 quality categories

Test Items

Scoring

Scoring Interpretation �Like Peers Level is equivalent to scoring in the top 75% of the range of students. �Somewhat Below Peers Level is equivalent to the bottom 5%-25% of the range of students. �These students should be monitored to determine the underlying problem. �Well Below Peers Level is equivalent to the bottom 5% of the range of students. �These students should be sent for an evaluation to determine the underlying problem.

Test results

Area(s) of occupation addressed �Education �MHA is best administered in a school setting.

Reference Asher, I. E. (Ed. ). (2014). Asher’s Occupational Therapy Assessment Tools (4 th ed. ). Bethesda, MD: AOTA Press. Reisman, J. (1999). Minnesota Handwriting Assessment. San Antonio, TX: Pearson.