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Convergent Validity and Test–Retest Reliability of the Oxford Physical Activity Questionnaire for Secondary School Students

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2012

David R. Lubans ,
Kathy Sylva  and
Zane Osborn
David R. Lubans*
Affiliation:
University of Newcastle, Australia
Kathy Sylva
Affiliation:
University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Zane Osborn
Affiliation:
University of Newcastle, Australia
*
*Address for correspondence: David Lubans, University of Newcastle, Faculty of Education and Arts, Callaghan Campus, NSW 2308, Australia. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the convergent validity and test–retest reliability of the Oxford Physical Activity Questionnaire (OPAQ), a self-administered questionnaire designed to assess the activity patterns of adolescents. The test–retest reliability of the OPAQ was assessed by administering the questionnaire on two occasions separated by 1 week (N = 87, mean age = 13.1 ± .9). Intraclass correlation (ICC) was used to examine the test–retest reliability of the OPAQ. The convergent validity of the OPAQ was evaluated using Caltrac accelerometers worn consecutively for 4 days (N = 51, mean age = 12.6 ± .5). Spearman's rank-order correlation was used to examine the convergent validity of the questionnaire. ICCs ranged from .76 to .91 and reliability was higher for males (r = .89) than females (r = .78). Correlations between self-reported physical activity and Caltrac accelerometer counts were related to vigorous physical activity (r = .33, p = .01) and moderate to vigorous activity (r = .32, p = .02). The OPAQ has excellent test–retest reliability and acceptable validity in comparison to other measures of youth physical activity.

Type
Standard Papers
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 25 , Issue 1 , 01 April 2008 , pp. 23 - 34
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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