The importance of being parsimonious: reliability of a brief community walkability assessment instrument

Health Place. 2010 Jul;16(4):755-8. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2010.01.008. Epub 2010 Feb 2.

Abstract

This research presents the Leyden Walkability Instrument (LWI), a brief survey checklist designed to measure the perceived walkability of a neighborhood or community where a respondent lives. The reliability of this instrument was tested using the intra-class correlation and found to be moderately substantially reliable (Landis-Koch rating) in every survey item (ranging from .54 to .76 and ranging in observed agreement from 72.8% to 93.9% with an overall instrument score of .71 and an observed agreement of 81.6%). The LWI is discussed in the context of other survey instruments designed to measure perceived walkability and found to be a useful addition because of its brevity and ease of use.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Checklist / methods*
  • Checklist / standards
  • City Planning
  • Data Collection / methods
  • Esthetics
  • Health Behavior
  • Health Promotion
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Observer Variation
  • Residence Characteristics* / statistics & numerical data
  • Safety
  • Social Environment
  • Transportation
  • Walking / psychology*
  • Walking / statistics & numerical data
  • West Virginia