skip to main content skip to footer

Examining the Factor Structure of a State Standards-Based Science Assessment for Students with Learning Disabilities

Author(s):
Steinberg, Jonathan; Cline, Frederick; Sawaki, Yasuyo
Publication Year:
2011
Report Number:
RR-11-38
Source:
ETS Research Report
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
49
Subject/Key Words:
Science Assessment, Learning Disabilities, Factor Analysis, Factorial Invariance, Item Parcels, Assessing People with Disabilities

Abstract

This study examined the scores on a state standards-based Grade 5 Science assessment obtained by a group of students without learning disabilities who took the standard form of the test and by three groups of students with learning disabilities: one taking the standard form of the test without accommodations or modifications, a second taking the test with accommodations, and a third group taking the test with modifications. The groups received accommodations or modifications that were specified in their 504 or IEP plans. Unlimited time was granted to complete the test. A series of item-level, then parcel-level, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses investigated whether or not the assessment demonstrated factorial invariance for the four groups of students studied. The results of this study help substantiate the validity of test scores for students with disabilities who take the test with the particular set of accommodations or modifications that were used in this study. In addition, the results lend support to modifying this state’s policy in order to aggregate scores obtained by students without learning disabilities and by students with learning disabilities who have taken the assessment with accommodations or modifications required by their 504 plans or IEPs for AYP purposes.

Read More