Validation of the Gumpel Readiness Inventory for preschool children in Hong Kong

The aim of this study was to validate the Chinese version of the Gumpel Readiness Inventory (RI). Participants included 653 preschool children aged three to five years old, their teachers and parents, and 49 children with developmental disabilities. Teachers and parents completed the RI and parents completed the Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ) as well. Each child was individually assessed on the cognitive domain of Preschool Developmental Assessment Scale (PDAS). The results showed that the parent's and teacher's versions of RI correlated with SDQ and PDAS. The RI scores of the children with developmental disabilities were significantly lower than that of the children with typical development. Older children attained higher RI scores than younger children. The internal consistency and the test-retest reliability (both parent's and teacher's versions) were above .70. To conclude, the Chinese version of the RI is a reliable, valid and quick instrument for measuring the school readiness of Hong Kong preschool children.