The Development and Content Validation of a Needs Assessment Questionnaire for Visual Attributes Profiling in Students with Visual Impairment

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Conducting a needs assessment is imperative to identify gaps in the current data management practices for visually impaired students. This study aims to evaluate the content validity of a needs assessment questionnaire, a critical precursor to developing a systematic visual attributes profile for this student population. By validating the questionnaire, the challenges and needs of visually impaired students can be accurately identified, enabling targeted interventions and informed policy decisions in special education. Ensuring the precision of the questionnaire establishes a foundation for understanding and addressing these students' needs, ultimately contributing to more effective educational environments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The instrument underwent two phases, i.e. item development and a comprehensive assessment of item validity by six experts. The experts evaluated the instrument’s relevance and comprehensibility using a four-point Likert scale. Microsoft Excel facilitated the analysis of the Content Validity Index (CVI), Content Validity Ratio (CVR), and modified kappa (K) statistics. RESULTS: The item content validity index (I-CVI) ranged from 0.83-1, with a Scale-level Content Validity Index (S-CVI/Ave) of 0.97, indicating acceptability. The Content Validity Ratios (CVR) for most items surpassed 0.7, indicating strong agreement among experts on their relevance with the interpretation of the K analysis of 70% excellent. However, three items in the second and third domains required revision and clarity enhancement. CONCLUSION: The content validity analysis showed that all items in the questionnaire were deemed appropriate. This suggests that the questionnaire is suitable for assessing the need to develop a systematic visual attribute profiling for students with visual impairment.