Gustav Bala

Raven's colored progressive matrices (CPM) - basic metric characteristics and norms

Principal measuring characteristics and norms of Raven’s colored matrices were determined on the sample of 2.334 children from Vojvodina at the age of 3.5 and 11. The basic metric characteristics were determined according to classical test theory (CTT) and item response theory (IRT). By testing a dimensionality it was showed that the test had one main object of measuring. The norms were also evaluated in terms of their precision in statistical and psychometric sense. It was found that there was no statistically significant difference in solving the test requirements between boys and girls at any age, nor was there any significant interaction of gender and age. Reliability of the test at the age group of 6 - 11 was over 0.85, at the age of 5 it was 0.75, whereas at the youngest age it was only 0.59. The complete test was too easy at older ages due to the Flynn’s effect. It is owing to this reason that a conclusion can be drawn that there’s a big question mark over its application at the age of 11,and even 10. It is recommended that standard Raven’s matrices should be used at that age. .

Effects of physical activity on children's behavior

Results Results showed that children of preschool age are less involved in organized physical activities, and also that girls of all ages have a lower participation rate than boys in organized physical activities. Factor-analysis isolated four contributors to aberrant behavior in children: negativity, anxiety, lack of adjustment, and lack of established controls. Relation of these four factors to participation in physical activity was also analyzed. A structure of aberrant behavior points to a strong interconnection between neurobiological and cognitive mechanisms and socio-emotional aspects of behavior in children.