Transdisciplinary Play-Based Assessment (TPBA-2)

Title of Assessment 

• Transdisciplinary Play-Based Assessment (TPBA-2)

Author(s) 

•  Dr. Toni Linder

• contributors:

  • Tanni L. Anthony

  • Anita C. Bundy

  • Renee Charlifue-Smith

  • Jan Christian Hafer

  • Forrest Hancock

  • Cheryl Cole Rooke

Year of Publication/Publisher 

•  2008

• Paul H. Brookes Publishing CO.

Identify Type of Assessment 

• performance-based

• norm-referenced

• observation-based

• questionnaire

Cost (identify source) & How to Access Assessment (include link if possible) 

•  Transdisciplinary Play-Based Assessment, Second Edition (TPBA2) (brookespublishing.com) 

• $54.95

Population (who it is appropriate for [age, diagnosis, etc.])  

• birth to 6 years old 

Appropriate Settings (potential practice settings appropriate to administer assessment in) 

• home health

• school-based

• outpatient OT

• early intervention (EI)

Purpose of Assessment & Function(s)/Area(s) Assessed  

•   The purpose of this assessment is to assess the four domains of development: sensorimotor, emotional and social, communication, and cognitive. This is done by observing the child's play in their natural environment. This includes how they interact with family and peers. The findings can be a helpful tool in determining services needed, intervention planning, and to track progress that has been made. 

Administration (time to administer, group/individual, if there are subtests, can they be completed individually, are there specific instructions to ensure standardization, etc.) 

•  60-90 minutes

• completed in the child's natural environment 

User Qualifications  

• no qualifications necessary 

Materials Required  

• Test booklet

• question forms

• materials can be whatever the child typically plays within the natural environment

• assessment involves 10 types of play that will involve different materials dependent on what the child enjoys:

  • pretend/symbolic play

  • sensory play

  • play with books & other literacy materials

  • sorting/matching concepts

  • numbers and counting

  • block/constructive play

  • writing/drawing/cutting

  • problem-solving (fine motor manipulation)

  • memory

  • gross motor play

Scoring Procedure (how is assessment scored and what does score indicate)  

• there are guidelines provided in the test booklet for each domain and each subcategory of the domains. The administrator will fill These question forms while observing the child complete that play activity. Then will be scored on the following scale: 

  •  above average: skills are 25% or more above age level and there are no qualitative concerns

  • typical: within 24% of the age level and no qualitative concerns

  • watch: marginal performance and make sure to watch for future assessment

  • concern: 25% or more below age level, or there is a qualitative concern in one of the subcategories

Psychometrics/Standardization (norms, reliability/validity studies) 

• good interrater reliability and test-retest reliability

• satisfactory validity 

Strengths & Weaknesses of Assessment  

•    strengths

  • observing the child in their natural environment for play and leisure activities

  • no qualifications are required to administer an assessment

  • relatively low cost

•  weaknesses

  •  lengthy to administer

  • forms may be confusing for someone to fill out if they are unfamiliar with the assessment 

References 

• Freelists.  https://www.freelists.org/archives/ecpsychologists/04-2020/pdfRRuPmUFgn2.pdf

• Linder, T. (2008) Administration Guide for TPBA2 & TPB2. Paul H Brookes Publishing.  

• Linder, T. (2008). Transdisciplinary Play-Based Assessment--Second Edition and Transdisciplinary Play- Based Intervention--Second Edition (TPBA2 and TPBI2). APA PsycTests. https://doi.org/10.1037/t11542-000