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Predictors of Item Accuracy on the Test de Vocabulario en Imagenes Peabody for Spanish-English Speaking Children in the United States.

Carla WoodRachel HogeChris SchatschneiderAnny Castilla-Earls
Published in: International journal of bilingual education and bilingualism (2018)
This study examines the response patterns of 288 Spanish-English dual language learners on a standardized test of receptive Spanish vocabulary. Investigators analyzed responses to 54 items on the Test de Vocabulario en Imagenes (TVIP) (Dunn & Dunn, 2007) focusing on differential accuracy on items influenced by a) cross-linguistic overlap, b) context (home/school), and c) word frequency in Spanish. The response patterns showed cross-linguistic overlap in phonology was a significant predictor of accuracy at the item level. After accounting for item number (expected difficulty level), context of exposure was a significant predictor of the likelihood of obtaining a correct response. Spanish word frequency was not a significant predictor of accuracy. The current findings substantiate the influence of cross-linguistic overlap in phonology and context on Spanish vocabulary recognition by Spanish-English speaking children. Children were more likely to obtain correct responses on lexical items that were associated with the home context. Researchers and practitioners should consider phonological cross-linguistic overlap in addition to context of word exposure and word frequency when designing and utilizing vocabulary assessments for children from linguistic minority backgrounds.
Keyphrases
  • young adults
  • healthcare
  • primary care
  • physical activity
  • mental health
  • working memory