ERIC Number: EJ1103952
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Jun
Pages: 26
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0013-5984
EISSN: N/A
Measuring Young Children's Alphabet Knowledge: Development and Validation of Brief Letter-Sound Knowledge Assessments
Piasta, Shayne B.; Phillips, Beth M.; Williams, Jeffrey M.; Bowles, Ryan P.; Anthony, Jason L.
Elementary School Journal, v116 n4 p523-548 Jun 2016
Early childhood teachers are increasingly encouraged to support children's development of letter-sound abilities. Assessment of letter-sound knowledge is key in planning for effective instruction, yet the letter-sound knowledge assessments currently available and suitable for preschool-age children demonstrate significant limitations. The purpose of the current study was to use item response theory to create short-form letter-sound assessments that are psychometrically sound, quick and easy to administer, and appropriate for researcher and practitioner use. Letter-sound knowledge data from 940 children attending preschool centers were analyzed. Item response theory analyses indicated that a two-parameter logistic model best fit the data. Further analyses yielded a series of parallel six- and eight-letter forms with adequate test information, reliability, and theta recovery. Implications for assessment and instruction are discussed.
Descriptors: Alphabets, Phoneme Grapheme Correspondence, Preschool Children, Item Response Theory, Instructional Effectiveness, Teaching Methods, Psychometrics, Test Construction, Goodness of Fit, Test Reliability, Test Validity
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A