Creation of a test battery for the evaluation of rhythmic feelings in university students in the field of physical education and sport

Abstract

Optimal movement rhythmisation is considered one of the basic prerequisites for improvements in the quality of movement performance using a particular technique. Well-developed rhythm-movement patterns play a role in successful learning of various physical activities as well as in athletic performance. University students – future PE and sports teachers – should improve their rhythmic feel skills during their studies so that they can use them later in their work and develop them in their future students. This requires the creation of a test battery for the evaluation of rhythmic feel skills through a series of music tests. This paper presents the results of tests taken by 121 university students at UK FTVS in Prague, the Czech Republic, and AWFIS in Gdaňsk, Poland. The test battery focused on three types of music-motor skills: perception skills and activities (items 1-18), reproduction skills and activities (items 19-27) and production skills and activities (item 28). The data were statistically processed using the classical test theory (factor analysis) and the item response theory (two-parameter model). Statistical methods also included reliability calculation and test validity. The expected rejection of the proposed hypothesis was confirmed both for the classical test theory and for the item response theory. The only exception was model 4 where, however, fit indices (especially TLI = 0.537) pointed more at a lack of evidence for hypothesis rejection than a perfect conformity of the model and data. The intention was to create and test models with the best data compliance. The best data compliance was found in models no. 1 and 5. Model 1 [CFI = 0.927, TLI=0.916, SRMR = 0.09, RMSEA (5 %) = 0.03, RMSEA (95 %) = 0.059] had a structure that corresponded to the proposed test battery and showed a relatively good compliance with data although IRT identified several problematic items. Model 5 [CFI = 0.956, TLI=0,942, SRMR = 0.073, RMSEA (5 %) = 0.03, RMSEA (95 %) = 0.111] was unidimensional (reproduction factor feeding items 19 through 27) and its fit indices showed better compliance of model and data. An optimised test battery should be developed based on these models followed by another validation of the test battery using statistical analyses.