The validity and objectivity of videotape combined with a rating scale in evaluating ballet skills

This study deals with whether or not videotaping combined with a rating scale is a valid and objective method of evaluating ballet skills. Subjects were fifteen beginning/intermediate ballet students who agreed to be videotaped performing approximately six minutes of ballet combinations at the barre and in the center. Prior to the taping, the investigator developed two types of criterion-based rating scales; a brief scale and a detailed scale. After completing the videotape, the tape and scales were taken to two experienced ballet judges and two inexperienced ballet judges. Training sessions were conducted for each group. The experienced judges viewed the tape and rated each subject using the brief rating scale. The inexperienced judges first used the detailed scale while rating each subject and later used the brief scale. All the scales used in combination with the videotape were objective. Using the brief scale, correlations between the two experienced judges were r = .96 for barre work and r = .90 for center work. (This high objectivity supported this evaluation method as the criterion test.) Using the detailed scale, correlations between the two inexperienced judges were r = .80 for the barre and r = .82 for the center. Using the brief scale, correlations between the two inexperienced judges were r = .86 for barre work and r = .77 for center work. Both scales used in combination with the videotape had moderate to high validity based on correlations between the experienced and inexperienced judges' average ratings. The correlation between the experienced judges' brief scale and the inexperienced judges' detailed scale were r = .75 for barre work and r = .72 for center work. Correlations between the inexperienced judges' average and the experienced judges' average while both used the brief scale were r = .63 for barre work and r = .77 for center work. Results of the study indicate that the use of videotape combined with brief or detailed rating scales is both an objective and valid means of evaluating ballet skills.