[Agreeing in assessment of hyperactivity in children]

Med Pregl. 2010 Mar-Apr;63(3-4):249-53. doi: 10.2298/mpns1004249g.
[Article in Serbian]

Abstract

Introduction: The study analyzes the accuracy and agreeability in evaluating hyperactivity in children.

Material and methods: The study sample was made of 139 children of pre-school age who participated in organized forms of physical activity. The mean age in the sample was 6.38, with a standard deviation of 1.00 years. Conner's Rating Scale was used to measure hyperactivity, and tests were also conducted to evaluate attention levels. Four independent reviewers observed each child's behavior by completing the scale.

Results and discussion: Eighteen children, or 13.5 percent of the sample, were identified as hyperactive in the analysis. These children also scored lower in the attention level tests. The results of the study show a correlation between the evaluators to be relatively high, bearing in mind the sources' independence.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that there is a mid to high-level correlation between certain reviewers' evaluations. However, even with a clearly defined view on categorizing certain behaviors as problematic, category labels still differ among evaluators.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / diagnosis*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Observer Variation