Developing a computer-assisted health knowledge quiz for preschool children

The project evaluated the reliability of a computer-assisted health, educat ion knowledge quiz, a multiple-choice picture identification assessment too l for nutrition and health-related knowledge in preschool age children. Pea rson's product moment correlation coefficients were computed to assess over all and componential stability between test/retest scores of 51 children (m ean age 3.6 years) enrolled in a Head Start preschool center. Cronbach alph a coefficients were calculated to determine the internal consistency of the subscales. Overall reliability for the computer-assisted quiz was high at .82 (p<.01). For individual subscales, test/retest correlations were highes t for Nutrition, Safety, and Environment (r =.56 to .81) and lower but stil l significant for Dental, Smoking, and Fitness (r =.37 to .48). Results sug gest a computer-assisted Knowledge quiz can provide a reliable tool to asse ss health education knowledge in young children. In addition, the computer- assisted test format is highly acceptable to preschool children and enables researchers to administer a more extensive test to young children with bri ef attention spans in a manner that engages their full cooperation and effo rt. In this respect it offers several advantages over traditional paper-and -pencil formats.