Psychometric properties of the Italian adaptation of the System Usability and Acceptance Model scale for children as users of AdapTol

The perceived ease of use and attitude towards new technologies are particularly relevant for the effectiveness and implementation of new digital neuropsychological tests. The present work aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Usability and Attitude Scale (UAS). The UAS is an Italian adaptation of the System Usability Scale (SUS) and Technology Adaptation Model Scale (TAM) for children, aimed at assessing the attitude and usability of AdapTol, a new computerized test for the evaluation of executive functions. 361 children participated in the study (age 4-8: n=177; age 9-13; n= 184). All participants responded to AdapTol, a new digital assessment tool based on Tower of London Test and then completed the UAS. UAS includes eight modified selected items from TAM and SUS. Exploratory Factor Analysis was performed in the two age groups (4-8 and 9-13) separately. In both analyses, the 3 factors extracted explained the 68% of the total variance. The 3 factors included those items dealing with usability (F1, 3 items), those expressing the perceived ease of use of the tool (tablet) (F2, 3 items), and those for the usability perceived by peers (F3, 2 items). The questionnaire showed adequate internal consistency (Cronbach’s Alpha =. 84-.83). In conclusion, the UAS showed good content validity and internal consistency.