ALPHA Measure of Environmental Perceptions
Measures the physical features of the respondent's environment and its suitability for physical activity.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The ALPHA Measure of Environmental Perceptions was developed by Spittaels, Foster, Oppert, Rutter, Oja, Sjostrom, & De Bourdeaudhuij (2009). It is designed to measure Environmental perceptions related to physical activity. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 18 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Types of residences in your neighbourhood, Distance to local facilities, Walking and cycling infrastructure in your neighbourhood, Maintenance of walking and cycling infrastructure in your neighbourhood.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Types of residences in your neighbourhood | 1,2,3 | 3 |
| Distance to local facilities | 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 | 8 |
| Walking and cycling infrastructure in your neighbourhood | 12,13,14,15 | 4 |
| Maintenance of walking and cycling infrastructure in your neighbourhood | 16,17,18 | 3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: Theme 1: 1 = None, Theme 1: 2 = A few, Theme 1: 3 = Some, Theme 1: 4 = Most, Theme 1: 5 = All, Theme 2: 1 = 1-5 min, Theme 2: 2 = 6-10 min, Theme 2: 3 = 11-20 min, Theme 2: 4 = 21-30 min, Theme 2: 5 = More than 30 min, Theme 3 & 4: 1 = Strongly disagree, Theme 3 & 4: 2 = Somewhat disagree, Theme 3 & 4: 3 = Somewhat agree, Theme 3 & 4: 4 = Strongly agree, Theme 4: 5 = Not applicable.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified in text.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 6 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.