The development of nutritional practical problem-solving tailored response tests for adolescents using a practical reasoning framework

The primary purpose of this study was to develop valid and reliable Nutrition Practical Problem Solving (NPPS) Tailored Response Tests (TRTs) and a Nutrition Knowledge Test (NPPS-NKT). This was done using Practical Reasoning (Brown, 1978), as a theoretical model and the Tailored Response Test (Thomas, 1988) as an assessment approach. A purposive sample of 385 students enrolled in Work and Family Life programs in central Ohio was selected for this study. Part I of the NPPS contained the TRTs with nine nutrition practical problems, and Part II contained 25 multiple choice Nutrition Knowledge Test items (NKT). The NPPS-TRTs and NPPS-NKT were developed using a correlational research design. The statistical tests used were Pearson correlation coefficients, mixed-effect general linear models including ANOVAS and ANCOVAs.;Content validity for each TRT was established by a panel of experts who classified the items according to which practical reasoning content components they measured. The NKT and the Cornell Critical Thinking Test (CCT) were used to establish the concurrent validity of the NPPS test. Kuder-Richardson 20 was used to establish internal consistency reliability of each test.;Results indicated a very strong relationship (r =.74) between Nutrition Standards (NS) and Alternative Choices (AC). General linear modelling indicated that students with a high level of nutrition knowledge as measured by NKT (F = 12.28, p =.0005) were better able to solve practical nutrition problems than students with a low level of nutrition knowledge. General linear modelling indicated a significant correlation between practical reasoning components and the CCT (F = 2.63, p =.04). The internal consistency reliability for the individual TRT paragraphs were quite high (r =.80 to.89), but the reliability for the Nutrition Knowledge Test was.56. In the analysis of age and gender on practical reasoning content components, and TRTs, age and gender had a significant effect (F = 2.19, p =.002). The effect depended upon both the TRT and nutrition topic. Females scored slightly higher than males on selected TRTs.;Overall, the study findings supported the assumption that nutrition problem solving involves evaluating alternative food choices using nutrition standards/values. The technical nutrition knowledge significantly increased the ability of students to solve practical nutrition problems. The study concluded that Nutrition Practical Problem Solving Tailored Response Tests (NPPS-TRTs) are valid and reliable for measuring students' practical reasoning. The NPPS-TRTs have potential as an evaluation tool for measuring practical reasoning with students studying nutrition.