Abstract
This study examined the test–retest reliability, inter‐rater reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity of the Fine Motor Scale of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales–second edition (PDMS‐FM‐2). Participants included two groups of 18 children between the ages of 4 and 5 years with and without mild fine motor problems. The PDMS‐FM‐2 was administered twice to 12 children and rated by two occupational therapists. The PDMS‐FM‐2 results were compared with scores on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M‐ABC). In addition, the scores of the children with and without fine motor problems were compared. For the test–retest reliability and the inter‐rater reliability, correlation coefficients varied from r = 0.84 to r = 0.99. These results suggest that PDMS‐FM‐2 has excellent test–retest and inter‐rater reliability. Convergent validity with the fine motor section of the M‐ABC and discriminant validity have been confirmed. Only 39% of the children in the group with problems in fine motor activities had fine motor problems according to the PDMS‐FM‐2. This finding seems to indicate that the PDMS‐FM‐2 may not be sensitive enough for this population. Copyright © 2005 Whurr Publishers Ltd.