Imagery ability assessments: a cross-disciplinary systematic review and quality evaluation of psychometric properties

Abstract

Background Over the last two centuries, researchers developed several assessments to evaluate the multidimensional construct of imagery. However, no comprehensive systematic review (SR) exists for imagery ability evaluation methods and an in-depth quality evaluation of their psychometric properties. Methods We performed a comprehensive systematic search in six databases in the disciplines of sport, psychology, medicine, education: SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, and ERIC. Two reviewers independently identified and screened articles for selection. COSMIN checklist was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the studies. All included assessments were evaluated for quality using criteria for good measurement properties. The evidence synthesis was summarised by using the GRADE approach. Results In total, 121 articles reporting 155 studies and describing 65 assessments were included. We categorised assessments based on their construct on: (1) motor imagery (n = 15), (2) mental imagery (n = 48) and (3) mental chronometry (n = 2). Methodological quality of studies was mainly doubtful or inadequate. The psychometric properties of most assessments were insufficient or indeterminate. The best rated assessments with sufficient psychometric properties were MIQ, MIQ-R, MIQ-3, and VMIQ-2 for evaluation of motor imagery ability. Regarding mental imagery evaluation, only SIAQ and VVIQ showed sufficient psychometric properties. Conclusion Various assessments exist to evaluate an individual’s imagery ability within different dimensions or modalities of imagery in different disciplines. However, the psychometric properties of most assessments are insufficient or indeterminate. Several assessments should be revised and further validated. Moreover, most studies were only evaluated with students. Further cross-disciplinary validation studies are needed including older populations with a larger age range. Our findings allow clinicians, coaches, teachers, and researchers to select a suitable imagery ability assessment for their setting and goals based on information about the focus and quality of the assessments. Systematic reviews register PROSPERO CRD42017077004.

Explicit Motor Imaging Abilities are Similar in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Chronic Limb Pain and Healthy Individuals: a cross sectional study

“…Indeed, education and level of physical activity were statistically different between the groups and are known to modify motor imagery abilities 39 . Although the MIQ-RS is a commonly used questionnaire 45 , and seems to be a reliable and valid tool [37][38][39] , it is not well balanced between upper and lower extremity questions, with 10 of the 14 questions focused on upper extremity MI abilities.…”

Reliability of the Spanish Version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3) and Characteristics of Motor Imagery in Institutionalized Elderly People

“…All these results suggest that the Spanish version of the MIQ-3 is a reliable measure of MI capacity for use in institutionalized elderly people. The study by Suica et al [ 29 ] showed that the questionnaires for assessing MI with the best psychometric properties were the Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ) [ 45 ] as well as its versions Movement Imagery Questionnaire—Revised (MIQ-R) [ 46 ], MIQ-3, and the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire (VMIQ-2) [ 47 ]. The same study showed that most studies assessing MI had been conducted in a young population [ 29 ], thus highlighting the need to validate MI assessment tools in the elderly.…”

“…The study by Suica et al [ 29 ] showed that the questionnaires for assessing MI with the best psychometric properties were the Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ) [ 45 ] as well as its versions Movement Imagery Questionnaire—Revised (MIQ-R) [ 46 ], MIQ-3, and the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire (VMIQ-2) [ 47 ]. The same study showed that most studies assessing MI had been conducted in a young population [ 29 ], thus highlighting the need to validate MI assessment tools in the elderly. On the other hand, of all these questionnaires, only the MIQ-3 and the VMIQ-2 assess MI ability and MI vividness, respectively, in the three subscales of internal visual, external visual, and kinesthetic imagery [ 26 , 47 ].…”

“…Nevertheless, the reliability of the MIQ-3 for use in the elderly has not been tested so far, nor have similar questionnaires been validated for use in the elderly. A recent systematic review of MI assessments suggests that more studies are needed in this context, including older populations [ 29 ].…”

The Effect of Audio and Audio Visual Imagery Exercises on the Level of Creativity of Aerobic Gymnastics Instructors

“…It has been claimed that kinesthetic imagery, olfactory imagery, audio imagery, and visual imagery modalities can be employed in imagery exercise [24]- [28]. Kinesthetic imagery refers to the sensation of movement while acting.…”