An application of cognitive diagnostic models in the evaluation of reading comprehension in Chilean university students

Introduction: Reading Comprehension skills are fundamental to the academic performance of university students. These abilities are not innate; therefore, systematic training is required before entering university. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the reading comprehension skills of Chilean University Students. Method: A sample of 579 students participated in the study, responding to four texts that comprise the Reading Comprehension Strategies for University Students (ELCU). An automated platform was used to apply and correct the test with immediate results and feedback. The tool allowed the use of a broad and representative sample of the various regions of Chile. The ELCU was developed using a cognitive diagnostic assessment (CDA) considering cognitive, metacognitive and linguistic strategies. The ana-lyses were performed using two different approaches: The Linear Logistic Test Model (LLTM) and the deterministic inputs, noisy "and" gate (DINA) model. Results: The rejection of the LLTM implies that the strategies do not differ in cognitive complexity (difficulty) while the adequate goodness of fit to the DINA model allows to characterise the students according to their reading abilities. Conclusion: The ELCU test provides reliable and valid information on the reading comprehension ability and metacognitive awareness of university students.

Introducción: Las habilidades de comprensión lectora son fundamentales para el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes universitarios. Estas habilidades no son innatas; por tanto, se requiere una formación sistemática antes de ingresar a la universidad. El objetivo principal de este artículo fue evaluar las habilidades de comprensión lectora de estudiantes universitarios chilenos. Método: En el estudio participó una muestra de 579 estudiantes que respondieron cuatro textos que componen las Estrategias de Comprensión Lectora para Estudiantes Universitarios (ELCU). Se utilizó una plataforma automatizada para aplicar y corregir la prueba con resultados y retroalimentación inmediatos. La herramienta permitió utilizar una muestra amplia y representativa de las distintas regiones de Chile. ELCU fue desarrollado mediante evaluación diagnóstica cognitiva (CDA) considerando estrategias cognitivas, metacognitivas y lingüísticas. Los análisis se realizaron mediante dos aproximaciones diferentes: The Linear Logistic Test Model (LLTM) y the Deterministic Inputs, Noisy "and" Gate (DINA) model. Resultados: El rechazo al modelo LLTM implica que las estrategias no difieren en complejidad cognitiva mientras que la adecuada bondad de ajuste al modelo DINA permiten caracterizar a los estudiantes según sus habilidades lectoras. Conclusión: La prueba ELCU permite obtener información confiable y válida sobre la capacidad de comprensión lectora y la conciencia metacognitiva de los estudiantes universitarios.

Intermediate-Grade Teachers' Adaptations for Weaker Writers: A National Survey in Urban Schools in Chile.

Two hundred fifty-four intermediate-grade teachers (88% female) in urban public schools in Chile indicated how frequently they made writing instructional adaptations for their weakest writers, which included students with learning and other disabilities. A majority of teachers reported making the following adaptations for their weakest writers at least once a week: individual tutoring, assistance from a peer when writing, and extra instruction in grammar/spelling, planning/revising, handwriting, sentence construction, and text structure. On a monthly basis or more often, a majority of teachers reported they provided weaker writers with choice about writing assignments, the opportunity to complete an alternative writing assignment, and extra writing instruction via computer technology. How often an adaptation was applied did not differ by grade. The perceived adequacy of teacher undergraduate preparation to teach writing, their efficacy to teach writing, and the proportion of students with disability in their classes each made a unique and statistically significant contribution to predicting how frequently teachers applied adaptations for their weakest writers. The Chilean teachers in this study reportedly made adaptations for weaker writers in their class more often than teachers in studies conducted in other countries, including the United States.

Análisis de los componentes en la adquisición de la lectura en castellano: una aplicación del modelo logístico lineal / Component analysis of Spanish reading process: an application of the linear logistic test model

Se analizan los componentes básicos para la adquisición de la lectura en castellano mediante la aplicación del modelo logístico lineal de Fisher (Linear Logistic Test Model [LLTM]). Participaron en el estudio 245 niños y niñas de edades comprendidas entre los 4 y los 9 años a los que se administró una extensa batería diseñada para evaluar distintos procesos básicos para la lectura (PROBALES). Se aplicaron técnicas de análisis factorial para seleccionar un subconjunto de ítems que mostrasen ajuste al modelo de Rasch. El LLTM permitió confirmar la validez del modelo teórico según el cual el aprendizaje de la lectura descansa en el desarrollo de tres habilidades básicas: reconocimiento de palabras, conciencia fonológica y comprensión de la lectura. Se muestra la capacidad predictiva del modelo mediante análisis discriminante, y se constata que se clasificó correctamente en su curso escolar al 68% de los participantes.

The basic components for the acquisition of reading in Spanish are analyzed by using the Fisher Linear Logistic Test Model (LLTM). An extensive battery designed to assess different Basic Processes for Reading (PROBALES, acronym in Spanish) was applied to 245 children aged 4 to 9. Factor analysis techniques were used to select a subset of items that would adjust to the Rasch model. The LLTM confirmed the validity of the theoretical model which states that reading acquisition relies on the development of three basic skills: word recognition, phonological awareness, and reading comprehension. The theoretical model's predictive ability is shown by discriminant analysis, thereby confirming that 68% of participants were correctly classified in their school grade.

Parent perceived impact of Spaniard boys' and girls' inattention, hyperactivity, and oppositional defiant behaviors on family life.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the impact of inattention, hyperactivity, and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) behaviors and gender on family life. METHOD: We created scales for the Family Experiences Inventory (FEI) in a nonclinical sample of Spaniard families with children ages 6 to 12 years (N = 369) and analyzed the perceived impact of these three behavior dimensions on family experiences. RESULTS: Multiple regression analyses indicated that ODD behaviors were uniquely correlated with Total FEI and its dimensions. Inattention was also uniquely related to higher negative Impact on School Relations and lower Positive Impact on Parents scales. Finally, gender-hyperactivity interactions indicated that boys with higher hyperactivity scores were more likely to score higher on the FEI Total, School Relations, and Siblings scales, and more likely to score lower on the Positive Impact on Parents scale than girls. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that parents perceive greater child-related impact and place greater burden from having a male child with hyperactivity. Inattention, hyperactivity, and oppositional defiant behaviors are associated with global parent-child interactive stress but the pattern of associations will vary depending upon the behavior, child gender, and context of family life examined.

Anormalidades cerebrales en sujetos disléxicos / Brain abnormalities in dyslexic subjects

Desde hace varias décadas se han intentado precisar los fundamentos biológicos de la dislexia. Dicho proceso de investigación y análisis ha permitido confirmar una serie de diferencias funcionales y morfológicas en el cerebro de los sujetos disléxicos. En esta línea de investigación, el artículo que presentamos examina la evidencia sobre las posibles anormalidades cerebrales en diferentes niveles: plano temporal, lóbulo parietal, cuerpo calloso, cerebelo, ínsula y hemisferio derecho. En el mismo, se analizan los hipotéticos factores genéticos que participan en la dislexia, poniendo elénfasis en el hecho de que, probablemente, un defecto en el procesamiento fonológico del lenguaje sea el factor determinante de la dislexia. Asi mismo, se plantea si la variedad de su sintomatología y de los defectos asociados podría relacionarse con la presencia de diferentes variables. Se concluye que, posiblemente, la dislexia no es una entidad discreta sino que se presenta como una gradación continua. Igualmente, se aporta la idea de que las características específicas de los distintos sistemas de lecto escritura podrían incidir en la frecuencia aparente y las manifestaciones particulares de la dislexia de desarrollo, así como en la probabilidadde hallar anormalidades cerebrales.

Since decades ago, significant research had been directed to pinpoint the biological foundations of dyslexia. Throughout history, several functional and morphological differences in dyslexics’ brains have been reported. In this paper, the evidence about brain abnormalities in different structures associated with dyslexia is examined: planumtemporale, parietal lobe, corpus callosum, cerebellum, insula and right hemisphere. Potential genetic factors involved in dyslexia are analyzed. It is emphasized that a defect in the phonological language processing may represent the core defect in dyslexia. It is concluded that dyslexia probably is not a discrete entity; most likely, it presents a continued gradation. Diversity in symptomatology and associated defects could be related with the involvement of different variables. Furthermore, the specific characteristics of the different writing systems could affect the apparent dyslexia frequency and its specific manifestations, as well as the likelihood to find brain abnormalities.

Visual and phonological coding in working memory and orthographic skills of deaf children using Chilean sign language.

Deaf children can improve their reading skills by learning to use alternative, visual codes such as fingerspelling. A sample of 28 deaf children between the ages of 7 and 16 years was used as an experimental group and another sample of 15 hearing children of similar age and academic level as a control group. Two experiments were carried out to study the possible interactions between phonological and visual codes and working memory, and to understand the relationships between these codes and reading and orthographic achievement. The results highlight the relationship between dactylic and orthographic coding. Just as phoneme-to-grapheme knowledge can facilitate reading for hearing children, fingerspelling-to-grapheme knowledge has the potential to play a similar role for deaf readers.

Códigos de lectura en sordos: la dactolología y otras estrategias visuales y kinestésicas / Reading codes in deaf children: dactylic coding and other visual and kinesthetic strategies

Research carried out during the last 50 years has shown that the majority of schooled deaf people do not reach the minimal or functional level for written communication. In this article, a review of the investigation attempting to establish the causes and possible solutions for improving reading in deaf children is presented. In particular, we analyze the linguistic components and the signed, phonological and dactylic codes. Finally, we propose a reading model for deaf people; this model is similar to the model proposed for individuals with phonological dyslexia. The following strategies for improving their phonological components are emphasized: dactylology, lip reading, cochlear implants, cued-speech, sign language and kinesthetic stimulation.

Las investigaciones realizadas en el último medio siglo revelan que la gran mayoría de los sordos escolarizados no alcanzan el nivel mínimo o funcional para poder comunicarse por escrito. En este artículo revisamos las investigaciones que en las últimas décadas han intentado establecer las causas y las posibles soluciones para la mejora de la lectura en sujetos sordos. De modo particular analizamos los componentes lingüísticos y los códigos signados, fonológicos, y dactílicos. En la última parte del artículo proponemos un modelo de lectura para sordos que es similar al utilizado en los sujetos oyentes que son disléxicos fonológicos, incluyendo de forma destacada las siguientes estrategias: dactilología, lectura labial, implantes cocleares, cued-speech, lengua de signos y estímulos kinestésicos, con el propósito de mejorar el componente fonológico.

Fingerspelling and sign language as alternative codes for reading and writing words for Chilean deaf signers.

The study examined the role of sign language and fingerspelling in the development of the reading and writing skills of deaf children and youth. Twenty-six deaf participants (13 children, 13 adolescents), whose first language was Chilean Sign Language (CHSL), were examined. Their dactylic abilities were evaluated with tasks involving the reading and writing of dactylic and orthographic codes. The study included three experiments: (a) the identification of Chilean signs and fingerspelled words, (b) the matching of fingerspelled words with commercial logos, and (c) the decoding of fingerspelled words and the mapping of these words onto the writing system. The results provide convergent evidence that the use of fingerspelling and sign language is related to orthographic skills. It is concluded that fingerspelling can facilitate the internal representation of words and serve as a supporting mechanism for reading acquisition.