Face and content validity of the of the Language Independent Functional Evaluation (L.I.F.E.)

Authors

  • Julie Yam Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • Andrew J. Haig Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • Karen S. J. Yamakawa Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25759/spmfr.47

Abstract

Purpose: Given the global scope of disability, it is important that tools used to measure disability are not biasedby the language or literacy of the respondents. Yet it is impossible to accurately translate tools into the world’s7000 languages. The Language Independent Functional Evaluation (L.I.F.E.) is a video animated functionalassessment that bypasses language and literacy. This study assesses the face validity and content validity of theL.I.F.E.

Methods: Rehabilitation professionals and non-rehabilitation students wrote descriptions of the 30 graphicanimations representing functional stages for 11 activities portrayed in the L.I.F.E. The relationship betweendescriptions and the principle L.I.F.E. designer’s description was rated by consensus of three reviewers on a 4-pointagreement scale.

Results: Exact agreement was obtained for 82% of 600 responses provided by 12 rehabilitation professionals and8 students. Complete misunderstanding of the concept occurred in only 6% of cases. Most of these were in therealms of bowel, bladder, and mobility. There was no difference in understanding between the professionals(content validity) and students (face validity).

Conclusions: The face and content validity of the L.I.F.E. are good enough for users to trust that the test portraysintended functions. This paves the way for easier measurement of functional ability regardless of language orliteracy.

Keywords: Disability Evaluation, Language Tests, Physical Therapy Modalities.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

How to Cite

1.
Yam J, Haig AJ, Yamakawa KSJ. Face and content validity of the of the Language Independent Functional Evaluation (L.I.F.E.). SPMFR [Internet]. 2013 Mar. 5 [cited 2025 Jan. 19];18(2):16-21. Available from: https://spmfrjournal.org/index.php/spmfr/article/view/47

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 2 (2009): Ano 17

Section

Original Article

License

Copyright statement

Authors must also submit a copyright statement (as seen below) on article submission.

To the Editor-in-chief of the SPMFR Journal:

The below signed author(s) hereby state that the article

________________________________________ (ref. MFR_________) is

an original unpublished work and all facts stated are a product of the author(s) investigation. This article does not violate any copyright laws or privacy statements. The author(s) also hereby confirm that there is no conflict of interest's issues in this article.

By submitting this article the author(s) agree that after publication all copyrights belong to the SPMFR Journal.

Signed by all authors

Date:

Names (capital letters):

Signatures:

The SPMFR Journal’s contents are follow a Creative Commons licence. After publication the authors can hand out the articles as long as the SPMFR Journal is credited.