Validity and reliability of field-based measures for assessing movement skill competency in lifelong physical activities: a systematic review

Background: It has been suggested that young people should develop competence in a variety of ‘lifelong physical activities’ to ensure that they can be active across the lifespan. Objective: The primary aim of this systematic review is to report the methodological properties, validity, reliability, and test duration of field-based measures that assess movement skill competency in lifelong physical activities. A secondary aim was to clearly define those characteristics unique to lifelong physical activities. Data Sources: A search of four electronic databases (Scopus, SPORTDiscus, ProQuest, and PubMed) was conducted between June 2014 and April 2015 with no date restrictions. Study Selection: Studies addressing the validity and/or reliability of lifelong physical activity tests were reviewed. Included articles were required to assess lifelong physical activities using process-oriented measures, as well as report either one type of validity or reliability. Study Appraisal and Synthesis Methods: Assessment criteria for methodological quality were adapted from a checklist used in a previous review of sport skill outcome assessments. Results: Movement skill assessments for eight different lifelong physical activities (badminton, cycling, dance, golf, racquetball, resistance training, swimming, and tennis) in 17 studies were identified for inclusion. Methodological quality, validity, reliability, and test duration (time to assess a single participant), for each article were assessed. Moderate to excellent reliability results were found in 16 of 17 studies, with 71 % reporting inter-rater reliability and 41 % reporting intra-rater reliability. Only four studies in this review reported test–retest reliability. Ten studies reported validity results; content validity was cited in 41 % of these studies. Construct validity was reported in 24 % of studies, while criterion validity was only reported in 12 % of studies. Limitations: Numerous assessments for lifelong physical activities may exist, yet only assessments for eight lifelong physical activities were included in this review. Generalizability of results may be more applicable if more heterogeneous samples are used in future research. Conclusion: Moderate to excellent levels of inter- and intra-rater reliability were reported in the majority of studies. However, future work should look to establish test–retest reliability. Validity was less commonly reported than reliability, and further types of validity other than content validity need to be established in future research. Specifically, predictive validity of ‘lifelong physical activity’ movement skill competency is needed to support the assertion that such activities provide the foundation for a lifetime of activity

An assessment of the Integrated Pest Management Collaborative Research Support Project's (IPM CRSP) activities in Uganda: Impact on farmers' awareness and knowledge of IPM skills

The IPM CRSP (Integrated Pest Management Collaborative Research Support Program) has been applying a farmer participatory IPM strategy at on-farm research sites in eastern Uganda since 1995. Following five years of project implementation an evaluation of project impacts was conducted using a stratified random sample of 200 small- scale farmers. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of project (IPM CRSP) activities on IPM knowledge and awareness change using comparison groups composed of project participants and non-participants. A summated ratings scale consisting of four attributes was developed to measure knowledge of IPM and individual indices were developed to measure crop specific pest management knowledge. Results indicate that more active participation increased knowledge of IPM skills and knowledge, provided preliminary support for the project's participatory research and extension approach. However, diffusion of knowledge was limited and project beneficiaries were slightly more socioeconomically advantaged. Several recommendations are made for increasing the number of farmer participants and improving the evaluation process

Impact of integrated pest management technologies on farm revenues of rural households: The case of smallholder Arabica coffee farmers

Enhancing farmers’ incomes through the utilisation of improved agricultural technologies is an important step towards poverty eradication among rural households in developing countries. Using empirical data from small-scale Arabica coffee farmers in Manafwa district in Uganda, this paper assesses the effect of integrated pest management (IPM) on net coffee revenue. The study also estimates the rural income multiplier of IPM adoption. After controlling for endogeneity and selection bias, we found that the multiplier effect of IPM use is positive and significant. The increase in income arising from the use of IPM leads to a more than proportional increase in demand for farm non-tradable and non-farm non-tradable commodities. Hence, coffee farming with IPM has a higher rural income multiplier than conventional coffee farming. These findings provide evidence that the incomes of smallholder coffee farmers and rural community economies can be raised through the use of production technologies that are less environmentally invasive than conventional coffee-growing technologies

Seed transmission of Fusarium xylarioides in Coffea canephora in Uganda

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Deriving appropriate pest management technologies for smallholder tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) growers: A case study of Morogoro, Tanzania

Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 2010. Vol. 6, Issue 3: 663- 676. Publication date: 28/04/2010,The current standard farmer practice for insect pests and disease control in tomatoes is routine weekly pesticide sprays which are not always required. Field experiments were conducted at Morogoro, Tanzania to evaluate the effect of seven management practices (sub plots) on pest incidence and yields during May-September 2007 (normal production season) and October 2007 - February 2008 (off-season) using two determinate varieties CALJ and Tanya (main plots) in a RCBD with five replications. Practices involving intercropping with Vigna unguiculata or Cleome gynandra, application of fertilizer or mulch were severely infested by insects particularly thrips (Frankinlla occidentalis) which averaged 30 insects/plant at 64 days after transplanting. The standard and integrated pest management (IPM) practices led to similar low levels of insect pest and disease control though in the IPM only 3 pesticide sprays were applied compared to 10 for the standard practice. In the normal season, disease incidences of early blight (Phytophthrora infestans), late blight (Altenaria solani), leaf spot (Septoria lycopersici) and leaf curl were low (<10%) except for fertilizer and mulch treatment where incidences were close to 50%. The greatest fruit damage (>50%) was ascribed to Helicoverpa armigera. Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus), the most dominant weed, was initially controlled by pre-transplanting application of Round-up® and mulch suppressed the growth of the dominant broadleaf weeds Digera muricata (false amaranth); Amaranthus spp (pigweeds) and Commelina benghalensis (wondering jew). In the normal season, tomato yields with current farmer practice were highest averaging 18.5 t/ha which was not significantly different (P=0.05) from mulch application (14 t/ha) followed by IPM (12.1 t/ha). Similarly, in the off-season crop, yields were highest and similar for mulch and standard practice (4.8 t/ha) followed by IPM (3.4 t/ha). Farmers selected mulch application and IPM for on-farm demonstration to verify production costs and benefits

Deriving appropriate pest management technologies for smallholder tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) growers: A case study of Morogoro, Tanzania

Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 2010. Vol. 6, Issue 3: 663- 676. Publication date: 28/04/2010,The current standard farmer practice for insect pests and disease control in tomatoes is routine weekly pesticide sprays which are not always required. Field experiments were conducted at Morogoro, Tanzania to evaluate the effect of seven management practices (sub plots) on pest incidence and yields during May-September 2007 (normal production season) and October 2007 - February 2008 (off-season) using two determinate varieties CALJ and Tanya (main plots) in a RCBD with five replications. Practices involving intercropping with Vigna unguiculata or Cleome gynandra, application of fertilizer or mulch were severely infested by insects particularly thrips (Frankinlla occidentalis) which averaged 30 insects/plant at 64 days after transplanting. The standard and integrated pest management (IPM) practices led to similar low levels of insect pest and disease control though in the IPM only 3 pesticide sprays were applied compared to 10 for the standard practice. In the normal season, disease incidences of early blight (Phytophthrora infestans), late blight (Altenaria solani), leaf spot (Septoria lycopersici) and leaf curl were low (<10%) except for fertilizer and mulch treatment where incidences were close to 50%. The greatest fruit damage (>50%) was ascribed to Helicoverpa armigera. Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus), the most dominant weed, was initially controlled by pre-transplanting application of Round-up® and mulch suppressed the growth of the dominant broadleaf weeds Digera muricata (false amaranth); Amaranthus spp (pigweeds) and Commelina benghalensis (wondering jew). In the normal season, tomato yields with current farmer practice were highest averaging 18.5 t/ha which was not significantly different (P=0.05) from mulch application (14 t/ha) followed by IPM (12.1 t/ha). Similarly, in the off-season crop, yields were highest and similar for mulch and standard practice (4.8 t/ha) followed by IPM (3.4 t/ha). Farmers selected mulch application and IPM for on-farm demonstration to verify production costs and benefits