Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Test of Playfulness (ToP)

  • Reference work entry
Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders

  • 3604 Accesses

Synonyms

ToP

Description

The Test of Playfulness (ToP) is an assessment designed for measuring the play of individuals between the ages of 6 months and 18 years (Bundy, 2010). It is composed of 29 items that are scored following an observation of the individual’s free play in both indoor and outdoor settings. It has been recommended that the ToP is most reliable when completed after play sessions that are 15 minutes in length. The ToP is completed by a trained observer. Items are scored on a 4-point Likert scale with respect to three dimensions: Extent (0 = rarely or never, 3 = almost always), Intensity (0 = not, 3 = highly), and Skillfulness (0 = unskilled, 3 = highly skilled).

Scoring the ToP utilizes a test-specific Keyform, which depicts the relative difficulty of each item plotted against the means and standard deviations for the items. Recording the item scores on this form produces a total score ranging from −7 to 7.

Historical Background

The initial version of the ToP was a...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 1,799.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References and Readings

  • Baranek, G. T., Parham, L. D., & Bodfish, J. W. (2005). Sensory and motor features in autism: Assessment and intervention. In F. R. Volkmar, R. Paul, A. Klin, & D. Cohen (Eds.), Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders (3rd ed., pp. 831–861). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bundy, A. (2010). Test of playfulness manual. Bolder, CO: Colorado State University.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien, J. C., & Shirley, R. J. (2001). Does playfulness change over time? A preliminary look using the test of playfulness. Occupational Journal of Research, 21, 132–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skard, G., & Bundy, A. C. (2008). Test of playfulness. In L. D. Parham & L. S. Fazio (Eds.), Play in occupational therapy for children (2nd ed., pp. 71–93). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child Study Center, Autism Program, Yale University, 40 Temple St, Ste 7D, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA

    Dr. Anne Snow (Postdoctoral Associate)

Authors
  1. Dr. Anne Snow
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anne Snow .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Irving B. Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics and Psychology Yale University School of Medicine, Chief, Child Psychiatry Children's Hospital at Yale-New Haven Child Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA

    Fred R. Volkmar (Director, Child Study Center) (Director, Child Study Center)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this entry

Cite this entry

Snow, A. (2013). Test of Playfulness (ToP). In: Volkmar, F.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_299

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_299

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1697-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1698-3

  • eBook Packages: Behavioral Science

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation