ERIC Number: EJ1328895
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Mar
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2578-4218
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Language Used in School Psychological Evaluation Reports as Predictors of SLD Identification within a Response to Intervention Model
Barrett, Courtenay A.; Burns, Matthew K.; Maki, Kathrin E.; Clinkscales, Andryce; Hajovsky, Daniel B.; Spear, Shelbie E.
School Psychology, v37 n2 p107-118 Mar 2022
Despite decades of research, much is still unknown regarding how specific learning disability (SLD) identification decisions are made, particularly how language related to sociodemographic and psychosocial factors may impact decision-making. This study employed the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) method to examine the language used in school psychological reports to better understand how sociodemographic (i.e., race, socioeconomic background, and gender) and psychosocial factors (e.g., positive and negative emotion, student effort, and student social processes) related to SLD identification within a Response to Intervention (RtI) identification method. The reports of students identified as SLD contained significantly more achievement-related language (e.g., hardworking, motivated, exerting effort) compared to students who were not identified as SLD, and achievement-related language was associated with SLD identification above and beyond RtI evaluation data (i.e., academic achievement and slope). Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Descriptors: Learning Disabilities, Disability Identification, Language Usage, School Psychology, Reports, Student Characteristics, Racial Differences, Socioeconomic Status, Gender Differences, Emotional Response, Psychological Patterns, Social Influences, Response to Intervention, Bias
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Michigan
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A