Pediatric Volitional Questionnaire

Abstract

The Pediatric Volitional Questionnaire (PVQ) is an observational assessment tool specifically designed to evaluate the construct of volition in young children, particularly those presenting with moderate to severe cognitive, verbal, or physical impairments. The instrument aims to capture both the child’s internal motivation and the environmental factors that influence their expression of ‘willingness’ or ‘volition.’ Observations are typically conducted during activities of daily living, such as play or self-care activities, in familiar and relevant settings. The methodology emphasizes placing the child in varied situations that offer opportunities for meaningful interaction with both people and objects, thereby maximizing the display of volitional behaviors.

Keywords

Pediatric Volitional Questionnaire, PVQ, Volition, Motivation, Observational Tool, Occupational Therapy, Pediatrics, Disability, Model of Human Occupation

Authors

Kafkas A, Basu S, Geist R, Kielhofner G (2002), Arts L, van Hees M (2003)

Purpose

The primary purpose of the PVQ is to provide clinicians, particularly occupational therapists, with a structured method for assessing the volitional drive in pediatric populations who cannot participate reliably in self-report measures due to age or disability severity. The scale is crucial for understanding how a child initiates, sustains, and enjoys engagement in activities, forming a foundation for intervention planning.

The instrument is designed to evaluate how a child’s inner drive (motivation) intersects with the context (environment) to shape their participation. By observing the child across various contexts, the PVQ helps identify specific barriers or facilitators that influence the child’s engagement in purposeful activities, aligning with the principles of the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO).

Construct

The PVQ measures volition, which, within the framework of the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO), refers to the process by which people are motivated toward and choose what they do. Volition encompasses three key components: personal causation (one’s sense of competence and effectiveness), values (what one holds as important and meaningful), and interests (what one finds enjoyable and engaging).

The assessment focuses on observable behaviors that reflect these components, particularly how the child demonstrates curiosity, persistence, effort, and responsiveness to environmental demands and opportunities. The PVQ is structured to capture the dynamic interplay between the child’s internal state and the external environment, providing a holistic view of their occupational participation.

Validity

As an instrument based on the established theoretical framework of the Model of Human Occupation, the PVQ possesses strong theoretical or face validity. Studies concerning the PVQ typically focus on demonstrating its content and construct validity, ensuring the items accurately represent the theoretical domains of volition as defined by MOHO in a pediatric context. Researchers often employ expert review and correlation with other related measures (e.g., measures of engagement or playfulness) to establish initial validity.

Specific findings regarding criterion-related validity (e.g., predictive capacity) are generally detailed within the academic literature supporting the scale’s development and subsequent revisions. Users are advised to consult the original 2002 publication by Kafkas et al. and subsequent psychometric studies for detailed evidence regarding its validity across diverse clinical populations.

Reliability

Reliability studies for the PVQ typically focus on inter-rater reliability, given its nature as an observational instrument. High inter-rater reliability is crucial to ensure that different observers using the scale arrive at similar scores for the same child’s volitional performance.

Internal consistency is also examined to confirm that the various items within the scale consistently measure the underlying construct of volition. The psychometric rigor of the PVQ, including test-retest reliability, is generally well-documented in occupational therapy research journals, establishing its suitability for clinical and research purposes, especially when administered by trained personnel.

Factor Analysis

Factor analysis, when applied to the PVQ, seeks to confirm the underlying structure of the volitional construct (personal causation, values, and interests) as proposed by MOHO. While specific factor structures may vary slightly depending on the age group and cultural context of the population studied, general analyses typically support a multi-faceted model of volition.

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses are used to verify that the items cluster logically into meaningful subscales, confirming the theoretical integrity of the assessment tool. These analyses help researchers refine the instrument and ensure its conceptual clarity when measuring complex psychological constructs in children with developmental challenges.

Instrument

Test Type: Observational Assessment

Format: Structured observation within natural or familiar settings during daily activities.

Language Available: English (Original), Dutch (Nederlandse versie: Arts L, van Hees M, 2003), and likely other translations.

Population Group: Children

Age Group: Young children, particularly those with physical, cognitive, or verbal limitations preventing standard assessment.

Population Details: Applicable across various clinical diagnoses including Musculoskeletal disorders, Psychological and personality disorders, and Nervous system and sensory disorders.

Test Methodology: The assessor observes the child during relevant activities (play, self-care, etc.) in a known environment. The child is intentionally exposed to varied situations to elicit a full range of volitional responses, which are then rated based on predefined behavioral criteria.

The original explanatory form (Toelichtingsformulier) providing detailed instructions and scoring guidelines can be downloaded here: PVQ Explanatory Form (PDF).

Keywords

Pediatric assessment, Occupational participation, Disability, Mental impairment, Motor impairment, Behavioral observation, Clinical instrument, MOHO

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source content.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source content.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The PVQ was originally published in 2002 by Kafkas A, Basu S, Geist R, and Kielhofner G. The Dutch translation followed in 2003. Information regarding specific usage fees and permissions for clinical or research application must be obtained directly from the copyright holders or relevant academic publishers associated with the Model of Human Occupation Clearinghouse.

Reference’s

• Kafkas A, Basu S, Geist R, Kielhofner G. (2002). Pediatric Volitional Questionnaire.
• Arts L, van Hees M. (2003). Nederlandse versie van de Pediatric Volitional Questionnaire.
• Refer to the Model of Human Occupation Clearinghouse for comprehensive academic references and manuals related to the PVQ.

Items of the Pediatric Volitional Questionnaire

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

The specific items and rating scales for the Pediatric Volitional Questionnaire were not provided in the source content. Users must refer to the original PVQ manual or the explanatory form for the detailed list of observable behaviors and scoring criteria.