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Reliability and validity of the Computerized Comprehension Task (CCT): data from American English and Mexican Spanish infants*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2008

MARGARET FRIEND  and
MELANIE KEPLINGER
MARGARET FRIEND*
Affiliation:
San Diego State University
MELANIE KEPLINGER
Affiliation:
San Diego State University
*
Address for correspondence: Margaret Friend, PhD, San Diego State University, 6363 Alvarado Ct, Ste. 103, San Diego, California 92103, United States.
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Abstract

Early language comprehension may be one of the most important predictors of developmental risk. The need for performance-based assessment is predicated on limitations identified in the exclusive use of parent report and on the need for a performance measure with which to assess the convergent validity of parent report of comprehension. Child performance data require the development of procedures to facilitate infant attention and compliance. Forty infants (20 at 1 ; 4 and 20 at 1 ; 8) acquiring English completed a standard picture book task and the same task was administered on a touch-sensitive screen. The computerized task significantly improved task attention, compliance and performance. Reliability was high, indicating that infants were not responding randomly. Convergent validity with parent report and 4-month stability was substantial. Preliminary data extending this approach to Mexican-Spanish are presented. Results are discussed in terms of the promise of this technique for clinical and research settings and the potential influences of cultural factors on performance.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Child Language , Volume 35 , Issue 1 , February 2008 , pp. 77 - 98
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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