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Linguistic Influences on Cognitive Test Performance: Examinee Characteristics Are More Important than Test
Damien C Cormier1, Okan Bulut2, Kevin S McGrew3
1Department of Educational Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G5, Canada.
Journal of Intelligence
|February 28, 2022
Summary
English language skills significantly impact cognitive test performance in English learners (ELs). Assessing language abilities before testing is crucial for accurate cognitive assessment and interpretation.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Educational Psychology
- Linguistics
Background:
- Fair cognitive test interpretation requires considering English language proficiency.
- Existing guidelines for assessing English learners (ELs) lack empirical support.
- Evidence-based practices for psychologists assessing ELs are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of language abilities and test characteristics on cognitive test performance in ELs.
- To provide empirical data to inform best practices for cognitive assessment of ELs.
Main Methods:
- Mixed-effects modeling was employed to analyze the data.
- Examined the impact of test directions (test characteristics) and examinee language abilities (expressive and receptive) on cognitive performance.
Main Results:
- Language abilities significantly influenced cognitive test performance.
- Test characteristics did not significantly affect performance when language abilities were controlled.
- Expressive and receptive language skills are key factors in cognitive test outcomes for ELs.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive test performance in ELs is substantially affected by their language proficiency.
- Psychologists must assess expressive and receptive language skills before administering and interpreting cognitive tests for EL students.
- This study provides evidence for improved practices in cognitive assessment for diverse populations.
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