A preliminary evaluation of the interpersonal music-communication competence scales

With the aim to develop and test a reliable and valid measure of communicative competencies in music for use in acquired brain injury rehabilitation settings, the interpersonal music-communication competence scale (IMCCS) was constructed, adapted from the interpersonal communication competence scale. Fifteen participants with medium to severe acquired brain injury, one music therapist and two blinded raters were involved in testing the IMCCS-Participant, the IMCCS-Therapist and the IMCCS-Rater versions of the scale. Before and after 20 music therapy sessions, each participant performed four music-based improvisational exercises in 1:1 sessions with the therapist (dialogue with the therapist, follow the musical ideas of the therapist, maintain musical phrases while therapist intentionally interrupt/challenge, and free improvisation with the therapist). Immediately following these improvisations, the participants and therapist completed the IMCCS. Two blinded raters completed the IMCCS-Rater after viewing video recordings of the exercises. Results revealed that the IMCCS-Therapist has good internal consistency (α = .89), the IMCCS-Participant has excellent internal consistency (α = .93), and the IMCCS-Rater has excellent internal consistency (α = .90). The two raters’ scores correlated significantly (r(26) = .54 to .73, p < .004), and a Cohen’s kappa analysis indicated a good agreement (Kw = .60). In addition, the correlation between the IMCCS-Rater and IMCCS-Therapist scores was adequate (r = .64, p = .005). All scales have satisfactory internal consistency and inter-rater reliability. These findings suggest that the IMCCS is a reliable measure of interpersonal communication competencies in music for people with acquired brain injury. Luk