ERIC Number: EJ982082
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-2194
EISSN: N/A
Qualitative Differences in Learning Disabilities across Postsecondary Institutions
Weis, Robert; Sykes, Lauryn; Unadkat, Devanshi
Journal of Learning Disabilities, v45 n6 p491-502 Nov-Dec 2012
Many college students receiving accommodations for specific learning disability (SLD) do not meet objective criteria for the disorder. Furthermore, whether students meet criteria depends on the diagnostic decision model used by their clinician. The authors examined whether the relationship between diagnostic model and likelihood of meeting objective criteria is moderated by students' postsecondary institution. They administered a comprehensive psychoeducational battery to 98 undergraduates receiving accommodations for SLD at 2-year public colleges, 4-year public universities, and 4-year private colleges. Most 4-year public university students failed to meet objective criteria for SLD. In contrast, most 4-year private college students met objective criteria based on significant ability-achievement discrepancies, and most 2-year public college students met objective criteria based on normative deficits in achievement and cognitive processing. Students who met objective criteria also differed significantly in degree of academic impairment. The authors' findings indicate qualitative differences in SLD across postsecondary settings and have implications for the identification and mitigation of SLD in college students. (Contains 1 note and 2 tables.)
Descriptors: Learning Disabilities, Qualitative Research, Postsecondary Education, Psychoeducational Methods, Academic Accommodations (Disabilities), Evaluation Criteria, Eligibility, Individual Differences, Disability Identification, Educational Diagnosis, Diagnostic Tests, Undergraduate Students, Cognitive Ability, Achievement Tests, Demography, Institutional Characteristics
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A