Pilot study: Perceived competence and goal setting in young children experiencing motor performance difficulties

1997 - 1998

Investigators & Staff

• N Pollock
• C Missiuna

Funding Agency

McMaster School of Rehabilitation Science - $4,500 (1997-1998)

Summary

This was a pilot study designed to develop and evaluate a methodology to

1. assist young children in assessing their competence in the performance of daily tasks and
2. set goals for therapy.

A central tenet of client-centred practice is the understanding of the client's priorities. It has often proven difficult for young children to express their ideas and as a result, therapy goals have been determined by parents, teachers and therapists. Using the All About Me (Missiuna, 1997), a pictorial scale designed to measure perceived self-competence, children were asked to select goals based on the answers given on this measure. A sample of 40 children between 5 and 8 years of age drawn from occupational therapy caseloads were assessed.

For more information, please refer to:

• "All About Me" was modified and improved to create the PEGS Outcome Measure, please consult: Missiuna, C., & Pollock, N. (2000). Perceived Efficacy and goal setting in young children. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 67 (2): 101-109.
• Details about the follow-up study on this topic

Impact

• This study was instrumental in developing the PEGS outcome measure.