Initial evaluation of psychometric properties of a structured work task application for the Assessment of Work Performance in a constructed environment

Abstract

The instrument has benefits; however, further development is desired. The use of a constructed environment in assessments may be a necessary option to supplement a real environment. But depending on organizational factors such as time and other resources, the participants had different opportunities to do so. Further evaluations regarding ecological validity are essential to ensure that assessments are fair and realistic when using constructed environments. Implications for rehabilitation This study indicates that assessment in a constructed environment can provide a secure and protected context for clients being assessed. Psychometric evaluations are a never-ending process and this assessment instrument needs further development. However, this initial evaluation provides guidance in development of the instrument but also what studies to give priority to. It is important to evaluate social validity in order to ensure that clients and assessors perceive assessment methods fair and meaningful. In this study, participants found the work tasks appropriate and usable when assessing their clients but client's perspective must also be included in following studies. This assessment instrument is the only activity-based assessment instrument within the Swedish Social Security Insurance. Psychometric evaluations are important since it affects so many individuals in Sweden.

Work Potential and Work Performance during the First Try-Out of the Person-Centred Return to Work Rehabilitation Programme ReWork-Stroke: A Case Study

“…The AWPs were performed in a constructed setting at a clinic. It would have been interesting, as a complementary aspect to the study, to perform AWPs at the participants’ specific workplaces with their real work tasks, as has been proposed by Karlsson and co-authors [ 25 ]. In that case, the information from the assessment would probably have been more directly connected to the challenges at the workplace.…”

“…The performance on each work task was scored on a Likert scale where 1 = incompetent performance, 2 = limited performance, 3 = questionable performance, and 4 = competent performance. The AWP has presented good psychometric properties [ 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”

Is a structured work task application for the assessment of work performance in a constructed environment, useful for patients with attention deficits?

“…Parallel to our work, one of the coworkers, had been engaged in developing the AWP in a more general direction meant for clients with various disabilities [66]. It includes three work tasks: an administrative task, an assembly task, and a sort-and distributing task not focusing on ABI and attention deficits or repetitive measurement.…”

“…This study showed that an administrative computer task was reported challenging regarding process skills, but was also perceived as monotonous. However, it provided information regarding physical and mental endurance [66].…”

“…The item separation reliability was 0.99, person separation reliability 0.83, and the item functioning was found to be differential across gender and diagnoses [63]. A recent study investigating the psychometric properties of work task application for the AWP indicated social and content validity, as well as utility, for used work tasks [66]. Assessment with the AWP is conducted by observing the individual s performance during a work task and then summarizing the observations in groups of skills.…”