An Analysis of the Differential Test of Spelling Ability

The following pages contain a statistical evaluation of The Differential Test of Spelling Ability constructed by the staff of The Reading Laboratory, University of Omaha. The major hypothesis of this instrument is that a person\u27s spelling disability may be in say one or all four areas of spelling dynamics. This test was constructed under the supposition that it is possible to discriminate between the four types of spelling ability in which the student may be deficient. The data obtained from the test results as to the student\u27s disability, if any, may be used to tutor him in his deficient areas. The purpose of the present evaluation is to determine whether the instrument does or does not discriminate between the four assumed types of spelling disability. The purpose of the test is to provide a basis for differential treatment of the spelling disabilities among college and high school students