Development of the physical education knowledge questionnaire-Spain (PEKQ-S): feasibility, validity and reliability for Spanish children aged 6–12 years

Purpose: Physical literacy (PL) encompasses the motivation, confidence, physical competence, and knowledge necessary for engaging in physical activity throughout one's life. Although tools such as the Canadian Assessment Physical Literacy (CAPL-2) assess PL globally, they lack cultural alignment with the Spanish context in terms of their cognitive components. This emphasizes the importance of developing a context-specific tool for assessing PL-related knowledge in Spanish primary education. This study aims to develop and validate the Physical Education Knowledge Questionnaire-Spain (PEKQ-S) for children aged 6-12, aligning it with the national physical education (PE) curriculum and evaluating its factor structure and reliability. Methods: The PEKQ-S was developed through curriculum review, expert consultation, and student input via open-ended and closed-ended questions. Its feasibility and reliability were tested in 145 Spanish primary school children aged 6-12, and its structure was evaluated via exploratory factor analysis. Results: ) = 0.508-0.832] and fair to substantial test-retest reliability [intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.337-0.696]. Moderate correlations were found between factors (r = 0.362), and most items demonstrated good reproducibility and stability. Conclusion: The PEKQ-S is a valid, reliable, and feasible tool for assessing PE-related knowledge linked to the PL in Spanish children aged 6-12. It represents the first instrument of its kind in Spain and forms part of the Spanish Physical Literacy Assessment for Children (SPLA-C) model.