Drawing proficiency screening questionnaire (DPSQ): Development, reliability, and validity

OBJECTIVE. We describe the development and preliminary psychometric examination of the DPSQ for identifying drawing difficulties in preschool children.

METHOD. Teachers completed the DPSQ for 78 children ages 3-6 yr from 4 preschools. Children drew age-appropriate geometric forms of the Visual-Motor Integration (VMI) test on a digitizing tablet. We examined psychometric properties of the DPSQ and analyzed group membership.

RESULTS. Internal consistency was high (a 5 .82). Significant correlations were found between DPSQ and VMI scores indicating in-air time (r = .37, p = .002) and pressure on the writing tool (r = .32, p = .007). The typical and at-risk groups differed significantly in VMI and DPSQ scores, t (76) 5 5.6, p 5 .001. The DPSQ mean score differentiated between 76% of children with and without visual-motor deficits.

CONCLUSION. The DPSQ is a useful tool for teachers and occupational therapy practitioners for indicating visual-motor deficits and potential handwriting problems.