ABSTRACT
Resumen Las etiquetas diagnósticas de dislexia y dificultades específicas de aprendizaje en lectura pueden considerarse, desde un punto de vista teórico, como prácticamente sinónimas. Sin embargo, la elección de un término u otro por parte del profesorado conlleva ciertas connotaciones que pueden ejercer una notable influencia en las percepciones de los docentes sobre estos estudiantes. El propósito del presente estudio fue determinar si las etiquetas de dislexia y dificultades específicas de aprendizaje en lectura influyen en el sentimiento de autoeficacia de un grupo de futuros docentes. Para ello se administró un cuestionario de 14 preguntas tipo Likert con 9 opciones a 242 estudiantes de los grados de Maestro/a en Educación Infantil y Maestro/a en Educación Primaria de la Universidad de Valencia que no tenían conocimientos previos sobre el tema que se trata en el cuestionario. Un grupo cumplimentó una versión del cuestionario en el que se preguntaba sobre la dislexia y otro grupo cumplimentó otra versión en la que la palabra "dislexia" se sustituía por el término "dificultades específicas de aprendizaje en lectura". Tras el análisis de los datos, se obtuvieron diferencias estadísticamente significativas, en las que el término "dislexia" parece ser percibido por los futuros docentes como una dificultad más compleja de afrontar, en comparación con el término "dificultades específicas del aprendizaje en lectura". Los resultados no señalaron la existencia de diferencias ni entre género ni entre especialidad (infantil/primaria). Esto indica que durante la formación inicial del profesorado se debería profundizar más en la comprensión de los términos "dislexia" y "dificultades de aprendizaje en lectura".
Abstract The diagnostic labels of "dyslexia" and "reading learning disability" can be considered from a theoretical point of view as practically synonymous, according to the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5; APA, 2013). However, the teachers' choice of one term or another carries certain connotations that could have a significant influence on their perceptions. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the labels of dyslexia and reading learning disability influence the feeling of self-efficacy of a group of pre-service teachers. Self-efficacy beliefs refer to the judgment that a person makes about their own ability to perform a certain action or task successfully. According to previous research, the study of teachers' self-efficacy beliefs is relevant because they are directly related to the academic performance of students. Moreover, these beliefs are also related to teachers' attitudes towards educational inclusion of students with specific needs of educational support, in which students with dyslexia or reading learning disability are included. In this study, a questionnaire of 14 Likert-type questions with 9 options was administered to 242 students of the Early Childhood and Primary Education Teachers degrees of the University of Valencia. These students had no previous knowledge on the subject that was treated in the questionnaire in the moment that they filled it out. The instrument was adapted from a questionnaire used in the study of Gibbs & Elliot (2015). These authors adapted it from the original one, Teachers' Sense of Efficacy for Literacy Instruction Scale (TSELI), designed by Tschannen-Moran & Johnson (2011). The questions were about the beliefs that pre-service teachers had about their own effectiveness and ability in teaching students with dyslexia or reading learning disability. There were also some questions regarding participants' demographic information. A group of pre-service teachers filled out a version of the questionnaire asking about dyslexia and another group filled out another version where the word "dyslexia" was replaced by the term "reading learning disability". After collecting the data, a statistical analysis was carried out with two purposes. One of them was to know if the use of two different diagnostic labels influences the pre-service teachers' self-efficacy beliefs. The other one was to find out if there were statistically significant differences regarding gender and the different specializations that the pre-service teachers were studying (early childhood education or primary education). After data analysis, statistically significant differences were obtained, finding that the term "dyslexia" seemed to be perceived by pre-service teachers as a more difficult problem to face compared to the term "reading learning disability". No differences were found between gender or specialty (early childhood/primary education). Therefore, the main finding of this study is that the use of certain diagnostic labels influences teachers' self-efficacy beliefs. More specifically, the interpretation of this result in this research is that pre-service teachers conceive the term "dyslexia" as a medical concept, what can be interpreted for students as a more difficult diagnostic to intervene and modify through education in comparison with the term "reading learning disability". This fact indicates that during initial teacher training, the understanding of the terms "dyslexia" and "reading learning disability" should be studied in greater depth. Additionally, this paper can contribute to show the importance of the decision made by professionals regarding the exact term they use when preparing the psychological reports of the students with special educational needs. These findings do not exactly agree with the results obtained in previous studies on this topic, and this is discussed in the discussion section. Moreover, we also indicate the limitations of the study and future lines of research.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The current trends in the evaluation of mathematics learning disabilities (MLD), based on cognitive and empirical models, are oriented towards combining procedures involving the criteria and the evaluation of cognitive and metacognitive processes, associated to performance in mathematical tasks. AIMS: The objective of this study is to analyse the metacognitive skills of prediction and evaluation in performing maths tasks and to compare metacognitive performance among pupils with MLD and younger pupils without MLD, who have the same level of mathematical performance. Likewise, we analyse these pupils' desire to learn. Subjects and methods. We compare a total of 44 pupils from the second cycle of primary education (8-10 years old) with and without mathematics learning disabilities. RESULTS: Significant differences are observed between pupils with and without mathematics learning disabilities in their capacity to predict and assess all of the tasks evaluated. As regards their 'desire to learn', no significant differences were found between pupils with and without MLD, which indicated that those with MLD assess their chances of successfully performing maths tasks in the same way as those without MLD. Finally, the findings reveal a similar metacognitive profile in pupils with MLD and the younger pupils with no mathematics learning disabilities. CONCLUSIONS: In future studies we consider it important to analyse the influence of the socio-affective belief system in the use of metacognitive skills.
Subject(s)
Learning Disabilities , MathematicsABSTRACT
Introducción. Las tendencias actuales en la evaluación de las dificultades de aprendizaje de las matemáticas (DAM), fundamentadas en los modelos cognitivo y empírico, se orientan hacia la combinación de procedimientos referidos al criterio y a la valoración de los procesos cognitivos y metacognitivos, asociados al desempeño en tareas matemáticas. Objetivos. Analizar las habilidades metacognitivas de predicción y evaluación en el desempeño de tareas matemáticas, y comparar el rendimiento metacognitivo entre estudiantes con DAM y estudiantes más jóvenes sin DAM, igualados en el mismo nivel de desempeño matemático. Así mismo se analiza la ilusión de conocer de estos estudiantes. Sujetos y métodos. Se comparan un total de 44 estudiantes de segundo ciclo de primaria con y sin dificultades de aprendizaje en las matemáticas. Resultados. Se observan diferencias significativas entre los estudiantes con y sin dificultades de aprendizaje en las matemáticas, en su capacidad para predecir y evaluar el conjunto de tareas valoradas. En cuanto a la ilusión de conocer, no se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los estudiantes con y sin DAM, indicando que los estudiantes con DAM valoran sus posibilidades de tener éxito en la ejecución de tareas matemáticas de igual forma que los estudiantes sin DAM. Finalmente, los resultados revelan un perfil metacognitivo semejante en los estudiantes con DAM y los estudiantes más jóvenes sin dificultades de aprendizaje en las matemáticas. Conclusión. Se considera importante analizar en futuros estudios la influencia del sistema de creencias socioafectivas en el uso de habilidades metacognitivas (AU)
Introduction. The current trends in the evaluation of mathematics learning disabilities (MLD), based on cognitive and empirical models, are oriented towards combining procedures involving the criteria and the evaluation of cognitive and metacognitive processes, associated to performance in mathematical tasks. Aims. The objective of this study is to analyse the metacognitive skills of prediction and evaluation in performing maths tasks and to compare metacognitive performance among pupils with MLD and younger pupils without MLD, who have the same level of mathematical performance. Likewise, we analyse these pupils desire to learn. Subjects and methods. We compare a total of 44 pupils from the second cycle of primary education (8-10 years old) with and without mathematics learning disabilities. Results. Significant differences are observed between pupils with and without mathematics learning disabilities in their capacity to predict and assess all of the tasks evaluated. As regards their desire to learn, no significant differences were found between pupils with and without MLD, which indicated that those with MLD assess their chances of successfully performing maths tasks in the same way as those without MLD. Finally, the findings reveal a similar metacognitive profile in pupils with MLD and the younger pupils with no mathematics learning disabilities. Conclusions. In future studies we consider it important to analyse the influence of the socioaffective belief system in the use of metacognitive skills (AU)
Subject(s)
Mathematics , Learning DisabilitiesABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) undergo high levels of stress, frequent quarrels amongst themselves and limitations in their social life, which are factors that exert an influence on the progress of the disorder and constitute a high priority therapeutic goal. AIMS: 1. To analyse the impact ADHD has on family life: economy, the relations between parents and children and between brothers and sisters, social life, and the feelings and attitudes parents have towards their child. 2. To study possible changes in the use of behavioural modification techniques and in the attributions/expectations of the parents following a programme of counselling. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In order to accomplish the first objective, 36 couples filled in a questionnaire about family impact, and percentage analyses were carried out. To achieve the second aim, 28 couples, who received counselling in small groups, filled in questionnaires before and after the programme, and comparative analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon interval test. RESULTS: 89% of parents suffer from stress, 64% feel uncomfortable about their child's behaviour, for 68% of them the psychoeducational cost of the child is higher, 50% have quarrels with their partner and 44% report that it makes it more difficult for their brothers and sisters to take part in activities. Significant changes have also been observed in the knowledge parents have about the nature of the disorder and the attributions/expectations they have about their child, together with improvements in the application of behavioural modification techniques. CONCLUSIONS: ADHD exerts a negative effect on the family system; parent counselling has proved to be effective in understanding the pathology and bringing about positive changes in expectations/attributions.
Subject(s)
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/psychology , Child Development , Family Health , Learning , Parents , Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/therapy , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Introducción. Los padres de niños con trastorno por déficit de atención con hiperactividad (TDAH) experimentan altos niveles de estrés, frecuentes enfrentamientos de pareja y limitaciones en su vida social, factores que influyen en la evolución del trastorno y constituyen una meta terapéutica prioritaria. Objetivos. Analizar el impacto del TDAH en el ámbito familiar (economía, relaciones padre-hijo y entre hermanos, vida social y sentimientos y actitudes de los padres hacia su hijo) y estudiar posibles cambios en el uso de técnicas de modificación de conducta y en las atribuciones/expectativas de los padres, tras un programa de asesoramiento. Sujetos y métodos. Para el primer objetivo, 36 parejas rellenaron un cuestionario de impacto familiar, y se realizaron análisis porcentuales. Para el segundo objetivo, 28 parejas que recibieron asesoramiento en pequeños grupos, rellenaron dos cuestionarios antes y después del programa, y se realizaron análisis de comparación mediante la prueba de intervalos de Wilcoxon. Resultados: .Un 89 por ciento de padres experimentan estrés, al 64 por ciento les incomoda el comportamiento de su hijo, para el 68 por ciento el costo psicoeducativo del hijo es superior, el 50 por ciento tienen enfrentamientos de pareja y el 44 por ciento refieren que obstaculiza la participación de sus hermanos en actividades. Se han observado, además, cambios significativos en el conocimiento de los padres sobre la naturaleza del trastorno y en las atribuciones/expectativas que tienen sobre su hijo, junto a mejoras en la aplicación de técnicas de modificación de conducta. Conclusiones. El TDAH ejerce un impacto negativo en el sistema familiar; el asesoramiento a padres se revela eficaz para entender la patología y producir cambios positivos en las expectativas/atribuciones (AU)
Introduction. The parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) undergo high levels of stress, frequent quarrels amongst themselves and limitations in their social life, which are factors that exert an influence on the progress of the disorder and constitute a high-priority therapeutic goal. Aims. 1. To analyse the impact ADHD has on family life: economy, the relations between parents and children and between brothers and sisters, social life, and the feelings and attitudes parents have towards their child. 2. To study possible changes in the use of behavioural modification techniques and in the attributions/ expectations of the parents following a programme of counselling. Subjects and methods. In order to accomplish the first objective, 36 couples filled in a questionnaire about family impact, and percentage analyses were carried out. To achieve the second aim, 28 couples, who received counselling in small groups, filled in questionnaires before and after the programme, and comparative analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon interval test. Results. 89% of parents suffer from stress, 64% feel uncomfortable about their childs behaviour, for 68% of them the psychoeducational cost of the child is higher, 50% have quarrels with their partner and 44% report that it makes it more difficult for their brothers and sisters to take part in activities. Significant changes have also been observed in the knowledge parents have about the nature of the disorder and the attributions/expectations they have about their child, together with improvements in the application of behavioural modification techniques. Conclusions. ADHD exerts a negative effect on the family system; parent counselling has proved to be effective in understanding the pathology and bringing about positive changes in expectations/attributions (AU)
