Assessing language skills in bilingual children
Reliability and Validity of Dynamic and Processing-based Assessments for Language in Diverse Bilingual School-age Children
This study is exploring new ways to check how well bilingual kids, especially those who speak a different language at home and are learning English, understand and use language, using fun and helpful methods to get a clearer picture of their skills.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11073088 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates new ways to assess language skills in bilingual children, particularly those who speak a minority language at home and are learning English. It focuses on two innovative assessment methods: dynamic assessment, which includes teaching during the evaluation, and processing-based assessment, which looks at the underlying skills that support language learning. The study will involve 165 children aged 4 to 6 years who speak any non-English language at home, aiming to provide a more accurate understanding of their language abilities. By rigorously testing these methods, the research seeks to improve how language disorders are diagnosed and treated in bilingual children.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are bilingual children aged 4 to 6 years who speak a non-English language at home.
Not a fit: Children who are monolingual or do not have language learning difficulties may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate assessments and better support for bilingual children with language disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using dynamic and processing-based assessments for language evaluation, but this specific approach for bilingual children is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ebert, Kerry Danahy — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Ebert, Kerry Danahy
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.