An analysis and cross-battery assessment of the discrepancy model for diagnosing specific learning disabilities in school-aged children

The purposes of this study were to examine the current issues of the discrepancy model for identifying specific learning disabilities (SLD) and to perform a cross-battery assessment of the WISC-IV and WIAT-III intelligence batteries to determine if the discrepancy model is truly identifying the areas of concern for students being tested with these batteries or if it is misidentifying students leading to issues with classification and SLD identification. A review of the literature examined the history of the discrepancy model and cross-battery assessments as well as the current issues encompassing the discrepancy model and the application of both the discrepancy formula as well as performing a cross-battery assessment. Data was collected through anonymous archival data provided by Rowan's Assessment and Learning Center. This data consisted of 35 subjects' WISC-IV and WIAT-III profiles ran through the Cross-Battery Assessment Data Management and Interpretive Assistant (DMIA v.2.0). The data was then run through a chi-square analysis to determine if there was a significant relationship between the DMIA software and the traditional discrepancy method. Limitations of the study are also discussed as well as interesting findings discovered along the way.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A. School Psychology-Professional School Psychology

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2014

Author dc:creator

• McEnroe, Matthew

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dihoff, Roberta

• Learning disabled children--Identification; Psychological tests
• Child Psychology
• Student Counseling and Personnel Services

Repository record dc:identifier

https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/296

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:rdw.rowan.edu:etd-1295