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Abstract

This study investigated the feasibility of using a microcomputer to diagnose spelling ability by comparing a computerized version of a diagnostic spelling test with a paper-and-pencil version of the same instrument. A diagnostic spelling test developed for the study categorized the spelling responses of children in grades 3 and 4 into 22 error categories. Written and computerized test presentations were counterbalanced with no statistically significant effect shown for order of presentation. A significant correlation was shown for words spelled correctly on both versions. Although significant differences were shown for the number of spelling errors across both tests, children showed a high degree of consistency by spelling 88.6% of the words correctly or incorrectly on both forms of the test, with 81% spelled exactly the same way. For words which were spelled differently on the two versions, no significant differences were shown for any diagnostic error category across the two tests. Microcomputer-based assessment procedures have been used successfully by learning handicapped children in previous research. Thus the current system developed for diagnosing spelling errors appears to offer the special educator another opportunity to efficiently and accurately identify spelling deficiencies, thereby facilitating the selection and implementation of appropriate remedial spelling programs.

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The Microcomputer: An Investigation of Its Effectiveness for Diagnosing Spelling Errors

Abstract

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