Preparation and Validation of Persian Word/Non-Word Lists for Assessing Repetition Skills in Preschool Children

Abstract

Background: In the Persian language, limited tasks measure the skill of repeating real words along with non-words. However, clinical centers need such tests to investigate speech and language problems in children accurately. The present study prepared two real-word/non-word lists, and their psychometric properties were determined.Methods: This methodological and cross-sectional study involved preparing 120 speech contexts (60 words and 60 non-words), which were then divided into two equivalent lists (List 1 and List 2). The content validity of these lists was determined. To check consistency and reliability, the lists were administered in two sessions at one-week intervals to 50 normal children aged 4 to 6 years from preschool centers in Ahvaz city. The children were asked to repeat each speech context after hearing it. Cronbach's alpha, test-retest reliability, and equivalent form reliability were calculated. Results: The content validity ratio of both lists was 1. Cronbach's alpha coefficients for Lists 1 and 2 were 0.792 and 0.790, respectively. The repeatability coefficients for Lists 1 and 2 were 0.70 and 0.71, respectively, and both were significant (p = 0.000). The difference between the two lists' average scores was insignificant (t = -0.67, p > 0.05). Age (but not gender) caused a significant difference in repetition scores.Conclusion: The prepared real-word/non-word lists for evaluating repetition skills are valid and reliable. They can be used for clinical and research purposes in Persian-speaking preschoolers, especially those aged 4 to 5.

Keywords

• persian
• preschool
• repetition
• validation
• word