Pilot Study for Standardizing Rapid Automatized Naming and Rapid Alternating Stimulus Tests in Arabic

This study examined the acceptability, reliability, and validity of the Arabic translated version of the Rapid Automatized Naming and Rapid Alternating Stimulus Tests (RAN/RAS; Wolf & Denckla, 2005) for Jordanian students. RAN/RAS tests are a vital assessment tool to distinguish good readers from poor readers. These tests have been demonstrated to be reliable and valid across different gender, racial, age, and language groups. This pilot study had four major phases: forward-backward translation, training of the examiners, pilot standardization, and estimation of reliability and validity. A sample of 250 students (six to nine years old) was recruited from four public primary schools in Jordan. Results indicated that the Arabic RAN/RAS Tests are valid, reliable, and cost-effective measures of predicting reading ability. Specifically, Arabic RAN/RAS Tests can be used with confidence to identify students who are at risk of reading difficulty

Arabic Reading Comprehension and Curriculum Based Measurement

Abstract The primary objective of this study was to evaluate whether students using a multicomponent intervention for reading comprehension (RC

Derivation of the Psychometric Properties of Rapid Automatized Naming and Rapid Alternating Stimulus (RAN/RAS) Tests in Arabic

This study examined the psychometric proprieties of the Arabic version of the Rapid Automatized Naming and Rapid Alternating Stimulus (RAN/RAS) Tests for Jordanian students. A sample of 286 students (five to seventeen years old) was recruited from four public and four private schools in Jordan. Results indicated that the RAN/RAS Tests had high reliability and validity indicators. For example, RAN/RAS Tests had strong correlations with Letter Word Identification Test from the Arabic Woodcock Johnson Battery. In addition, there were significant relationships in all tests and the development of performance with the age or grade of the examinees. Furthermore, positive relationships among all RAN/RAS Tests confirm their consistency, strength, and reliability in measuring the required tasks. In general, results suggest that RAN/RAS Tests may be applicable to evaluating naming speed abilities and for distinguishing between students with and without reading disabilities in Arabic. Keywords: Rapid Automatized Naming, Special Education, Specific Learning Disabilities in Reading, Screening Tests, Arabic Language

The Relationships among Cognitive Ability Measures and Irregular Word, Non-Word, and Word Reading

This study examined the relationships between and among: (a) Processing Speed (PS) Cluster and Rapid Automatized Naming (RAN) Total to reading ability; (b) measures of RAN and PS to irregular word, non-word, and word reading; and (c) the relationships among irregular word, non-word, and word reading. The word reading measures were predicted by using multiple cognitive abilities including Phonological Awareness (PA), RAN, PS, and Working Memory (WM). Sixty participants, 39 students who were average readers and 21 students with reading difficulties in Grades 1, 2, 3, and 4 were recruited.Correlational designs testing predictive relationships were used to conduct this study. The results indicated that the PS Cluster had the strongest correlation with irregular word reading, whereas the RAN Total had the strongest correlation with both word reading and non-word reading ability. Reading performance was best predicted by RAN-Letters. In addition, the Woodcock-Johnson III Visual Matching test had the strongest predictive power of reading ability among all of the PS measures.High correlations were found among the reading variables within normally distributed data, whereas there was no significant correlation between irregular and nonword reading within the group of students with Reading Difficulties. These findings provide support for the dual-route theory. Among the 21 students with RD, 10 students presented problems in both non-word reading and irregular word reading; 9 students presented problems just in non-word reading; and 2 students presented problems just in irregular word reading. A model consisting of RAN, PA, and PS, as included in the study measures, provided the most powerful prediction of all reading skills. These findings also lend more support to the double-deficit model and indicate that PA and naming speed problems contribute independently to variance in reading.This study provides direction for the assessment of specific reading disability and the cognitive underpinnings of this disorder. These findings support the need to assess PA, RAN, and PS, as well as various types of word reading skills, when making a reading disability diagnosis. Further research may cross validate the results of this study, or add other aspects of reading (eg., reading fluency or comprehension) to this line of research.Release after 3/2/201

Preliminary validation of two math screening tools to identify gifted students in grades 3–5 in Jordan

Introduction: Early screening for mathematically gifted students (MGSs) in Jordan and other Arab countries is limited, posing challenges in identifying and providing appropriate educational services. This study evaluates the validity and reliability of the Arabiya Calculation Test and Math Curriculum-Based Measurement (M-CBM) as tools for effectively screening and supporting MGSs in inclusive education settings. These tools were developed based on the Jordanian curriculum and international assessment tools and require further validation for use in other Arabic-speaking countries. Methods: A quantitative research design was employed, using the Arabiya Calculation Test and M-CBM to assess 78 MGSs in grades 3, 4, and 5 across three schools in Jordan. The tools’ reliability and validity were evaluated, with findings specifically limited to these grades. Performance differences among students and correlations between the two measures were analyzed. Results: The findings demonstrated that both the Arabiya Calculation Test and M-CBM are valid and reliable tools for identifying MGSs. These tools effectively differentiated performance across grades 3, 4, and 5. In addition, the significant correlation between these two measures supported their validity in identifying gifted students. Discussion: The results have important implications for educational practice and policy in Jordan and similar Arab countries. Accurate identification of gifted students may facilitate tailored instruction and enrichment programs, improving the experience of inclusive education. These assessment tools offer the potential to identify gifted students early and meet their needs within an inclusive school environment