Abstract
The purpose of this study was to test the reliability and validity of the Infant Montessori Performance Assessment Scales developed by the authors. Subjects of the study consisted of 132 Montessori teachers and 50 infants who were attending Montessori home school throughout the whole country, using census method. Infant's age ranged from 6 to 24 months. Data were analysed by using SAS 8.2 PC program. Statistical methods employed were frequency, Cronbach's alpha, Kappa coefficient, test-retest correlation, construct validity, and concurrent validity. The Cronbach's alpha of 6 sub-scales included physical, creativity, practical life, sense, language, and cognitive education, which ranged from .70 to .86. And the! correlation of the test/re-test was .72. The correlation between the 6 sub-scales of Infant-Montessori Performance Assessment Scales and the total scores of 6 items ranged from .06 to .84. Therefore, the construct validity of Infant Montessori Performance Assessment Scales was verified. The Kappa coefficient of inter-rater reliability was .76. The correlation between the Infant Montessori Performance Assessment Scales and the Standardized Korean Creativity Traits Checklist(K-CTC) and the Korean Child Social Maturity Scales showed non-significant levels of .16 and .12 respectively. Conclusively, Infant Montessori Performance Assessment Scales developed by the authors were verified through the above reliability and validity tests. Specifically the Infant Montessori Performance Assessment Scales showed the relationship of the convergent and divergent validity with the Korean Child Social Maturity Scales and the Standardized Korean Creativity Traits Checklist, respectively.