ERIC Number: EJ693856
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005
Pages: 14
Abstractor: Author
Reference Count: 0
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4669
Qualitative or Quantitative Differences? "Latent Class Analysis of Mathematical Ability for Special Education Students"
Yang, Xiangdong; Shaftel, Julia; Glasnapp, Douglas; Poggio, John
Journal of Special Education, v38 n4 p194-207 Win 2005
The current article investigates whether the mathematics achievement of students in special education can be used to identify those who share common cognitive skills that may not be in concordance with their disability labels. Latent class analysis of a comprehensive test of mathematics taken by fourth-grade students with various disabilities reveals that a model with 2 latent classes is adequate to characterize the latent structure of the data. A parallel relationship of response profiles across the 2 classes suggests differences in the levels of mathematical ability (quantitative), rather than differences in the type of mathematical ability (qualitative), between the 2 latent classes in terms of generic mathematical proficiency. Cross-validation on a separate data set with careful matching of content areas within the math test verified this conclusion. Although a significant relationship exists between the identified latent classes and various disabilities, the analysis also found common mathematical problem-solving behaviors across disability categories. Implications for intervention and limitations of the current study are discussed.
PRO-ED, Inc., 8700 Shoal Creek Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78757-6897. Tel: 800-897-3202 (Toll Free).
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Grade 4
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: N/A

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