Inter-Rater Reliability and Concurrent Validity of the Preschool Play Scale with Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

This study examined whether the Revised Knox Preschool Play Scale (PPS-R) was reliable and valid for use in assessing play behavior of preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Inter-rater reliability of the PPS-R was investigated. Comparing scores on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS) on 61 children determined concurrent validity of the PPS-R. Intraclass Correlation and Spearman's Rank Order Correlation coefficients revealed the PPS-R had high inter-rater reliability (r = .94) and correlated significantly (r = .52, p< .01) with the total score of the VABS, respectively. Results support the PPS-R is a reliable and valid measurement of play behavior for preschoolers with ASD.