Determining Item Sequence of Bayley Scale in Persian Language Children

Abstract

Objective The Bayley scale is one of the important and well-known tests to measure the development in the early life of children. Using this test, it is possible to identify possible developmental delays and the child's strengths and weaknesses. In the previous studies, cultural adaptation and standardization were performed in the Persian language. However, it is necessary to examine the item sequence in each language and culture. This study investigates the appropriateness of the Bayley sequence in the Persian language children. Materials & Methods This was a secondary study and the data from previous standardization studies were used. The scores of 1-42 month old children in each age group were analyzed for each item. As the difficulty of the items increased during the test, if deviated from the process, it indicated that the item was not in its proper position. In this study, by examining the difference in scores before and after each item, deviant items were identified. Results The results showed that 41 items deviated from the main trend, of which 27 deviated items were at the starting point. Among the 27 deviant items at the starting point, 14 items were easier than the previous items (item 42=cognitive, items 10, 20, 24=receptive communication, items 3, 5, 10, 15, 18=expressive communication, items 24 and 39=fine motor, and items 20, 53, and 55=gross motor). Conclusion According to the results, there are 14 deviant items in the Bayley scale for the Persian language, which may have an impact on the test result, which is a small amount compared to the total test items. Nevertheless, it is recommended to examine these items in the next revisions of the test so that a correct estimate of the development process of Persian-speaking children can be made.

Keywords

• bayley scale
• children
• development