The Analysis of on Instrument for Screening Learning Disabilities

Abstract

Most instruments used in screening for learning disabilities were not developed specifically for that purpose and therefore do not measure various factors of learning disabilities. The classroom screening instrument (CSI) was investigated for its usefulness as a screening measure. Data collected from 400 children on the CSI were thoroughly factor analyzed to locate the common factor space and to locate the number of original items contributing to the factor space. Of the original 80 items, 48 were found to be loading on 10 factors. Forty of those items were of complexity one, seven were of complexity two, and one item was of complexity three. The factor solution based upon 48 items was of different structure than the original instrument, revealing somewhat different dimensions. The CSI was found to consist of factors which would be very useful in screening for learning disabilities.