Learning Disabilities Identification: Do Researchers Have the Answer?

Abstract

One hundred and thirteen studies were reviewed to determine how researchers identify their LD samples. Populations were compared on academic, process, intelligence, exclusion, and discrepancy components as well as the demographic characteristics of age, sex, and grade. Researchers were found most often to select the academic and intelligence components and the demographic characteristics of age and sex to identify their populations. However, these components were described in a variety of ways. Less than half of the researchers used the process or exclusion components or included a description of grade placement. The article includes suggestions for obtaining more generalizability of research findings based on results of the review of existing research studies.