The present study is an investigation of the predictive validity and test-retest reliability of a new readiness instrument, the Basic School Skills Inventory (BSSI). Scores obtained by 90 children in kindergarten on the BSSI were used to predict later teacher ratings of their performance in first grade. Test-retest reliability was estimated using a method developed for criterion-referenced measures, and sex and ethnic differences in test scores were examined. It was concluded that the BSSI total score provided an effective and highly reliable means of predicting teachers' ratings of first-grade performance.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Adelman, H.S, and Feshbach, S.: Predicting reading failure: Beyond the readiness model. Exceptional Child., 1971, 37, 349–354.
2.
Bender, L.: A Visual-Motor Gestalt Test and Its Clinical Use. New York: American Orthopsychiatric Assn., 1970.
3.
Bereiter, C., and Engelmann, S.: Teaching Disadvantaged Children in the Preschool. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1970.
4.
Bruning, J., and Kintz, B.: Computational Handbook of Statistics. Glenview, Ill.: Scott, Foresman, 1970.
5.
Carter, T.P.: Mexican Americans in School: A History of Educational Neglect. New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 1970.
6.
Coleman, J., Campbell, E., Hobson, C., McPortland, J., Mood, A., Weinfield, F., and York, P.: Equality of Educational Opportunity, Report from Office of Education. Washington, D.C.: Govt. Printing Office, 1970.
7.
Edmonston, L., Randall, R., and Oakland, T.: A model for estimating the reliability and validity of criterion-referenced measures. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Amer. Educ. Res. Assn., Chicago, April, 1972.
8.
Ferguson, G.: Statistical Analysis in Psychology and Education (3rd Ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill, 1971.
Hildreth, G.H, Griffiths, N.L, and McGauvran, M.E.: Metropolitan Readiness Tests. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1970.
15.
Hoehn, A.: A study of social status differentiation in the classroom behaviors of 19 third-grade teachers. J. School Psychol., 1954, 39, 269–292.
16.
Keogh, B., and Becker, L.D.: Early detection of learning problems: Questions, cautions, and guidelines. Exceptional Child., 1973, 40 (1), 5–11.
17.
Palardy, J.: What teachers believe— What children achieve. Elementary School J., 1969, 69, 370–374.
18.
Siegel, S.: Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1970.
19.
Slingerland, B.: Screening Tests for Identifying Children with Specific Language Disabilities, Grade I and Beginning Grade II. Cambridge, Mass.: Educators Publishing Service, 1970.
20.
White, L.A.: The predictive validity and reliability of the First Grade Readiness Scale for low socioeconomic preschool children. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Texas, Austin, 1973.
