KIDTALK: A Computerized Language Screening Test

Ellen L. Jacobs

Journal of Computing in Childhood Education, Vol. 9, No. 2, 1998, p. 113-131

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a nonbiased computerized language screening test, the Kidtalk Interactive Diagnostic Test of Aptitude for Language Knowledge (KIDTALK), in differentiating children on the basis of diagnostic category but not ethnic/linguistic background. KIDTALK was designed to assess children's aptitude for acquiring linguistic knowledge of an invented language. Participants were 29 Anglo/English-speaking (A/E) and 31 Hispanic/Spanish-speaking (H/S) 7- and 8-year-old children. Twenty-one were language-learning disabled (LLD), and 39 were non-language-learning disabled (NLLD). Results showed a statistically significant difference between the KIDTALK scores of the LLD and NLLD groups, no difference between the A/E and H/S groups, and no interaction effect. Discussion emphasizes that the computer can be an effective tool for identifying LLD in bicultural populations.

We hope you found what you needed on this page. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me.

Howard J. Bender, Ph.D.
President
The Education Process Improvement Center, Inc.
P.O. Box 186
Riverdale, Maryland 20738
hjbender@epicent.com