Download a Printer-Friendly WORD or PDF document:
|
Publication Data |
| Instrument name/abbreviation |
Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning - Third Edition (DIAL-3)
Technical Information |
| Author(s) |
Carol Mardell-Czudnowski, Ph.D. Dorothea S. Goldenberg, Ed.D |
| Publisher/address |
Pearson Assessmenets, Bloomington, MN |
| Copyright date |
1998 |
|
Product Description |
| Brief description |
DIAL-3 is an individually administered screening test designed to identify young children in need of further diagnostic assessment. The Speed DIAL, included with the DIAL-3, offers a briefer screening alternative. |
| Primary use/purpose |
Developmental screening |
| Age range covered |
Ages 3-0 to 6-11 |
| Administration time |
DIAL-3: About 30 minutes
Speed DIAL: About 15 minutes
|
| Individual vs. group |
Individually administered |
| User qualifications |
The DIAL-3 or Speed DIAL can be administered and scored by a professional or paraprofessional who has been trained in the use of the test materials.
The coordinator who oversees DIAL-3 or Speed DIAL use and interpretation should be a professional in special education, early childhood education, psychology, speech and language, school nursing, or another closely related area.
|
|
Content |
| DIAL-3 Domains |
The DIAL-3 subtests cover the five domains mandated by federal law: physical, cognitive, communication, social or emotional, and adaptive. The test also includes a 9-item rating scale of the child's social-emotional behavior and a rating of the child's intelligibility.
|
| DIAL-3 Subtest names |
Motor
- assesses gross and fine motor development Concepts - assesses knowledge of basic concepts such as counting and colors Language - assesses the child's use of receptive and expressive language Self-Help Development - assesses the child's daily living skills in such areas as eating, drinking, and dressing Social Development - assesses the child's skills in relating to peers, siblings, parents, and teachers or other adults |
| DIAL-3 Composite name |
DIAL-3 Total
(derived from scores in Motor, Concepts, and Language) |
| Speed DIAL |
Ten items taken from the Motor, Concepts, and Language areas of the DIAL-3 |
| Forms |
Single form each of DIAL-3 and Speed DIAL, available in English or Spanish |
| Materials included in the kit |
Manual
50 English record forms with 50 cutting cards
50 English parent questionnaires, which cover background information, parental concerns, and the Self-Help and Social Development areas
Training packet
Operator's handbooks, dials, and all manipulatives needed to administer the Motor, Concepts, and Language areas in either English or Spanish
Speed DIAL operator's handbook
Samples of Spanish forms and the Speed DIAL record form
* Kits with Spanish forms are available on request
|
|
Item Information |
| Item types |
Each item assesses unique behaviors. Some items consist of only one task (for example, catching), while other items include more than one task (for example, jumping, hopping, and skipping). |
| Response format |
Depending on the task, the child's response could be oral or motor. |
| Item scoring |
Motor, Concepts, and Language
(in DIAL-3 or Speed DIAL) - Task scores are summed to obtain an item raw score, which is then converted into an item scaled score. These scaled scores are a functional 5-point scale, with 0 as the lowest and 4 as the highest. They are summed to obtain a scaled score total. On the DIAL-3, the three subtest scaled score totals are summed to obtain the DIAL-3 Total score. Self-Help and Social - Items are scored 0, 1, or 2. These scores are summed to obtain the raw score for each area. |
|
Scoring Information |
| Scoring options |
By hand or computer |
| Derived scores available |
Results of DIAL-3 or Speed DIAL screening can be used to determine if the child:
- Requires further assessment ("Potential Delay")
- Appears to be developing satisfactorily ("OK")
Cutoffs can be chosen at five levels: 16% (1.0 SD), 10% (1.3 SD), 7% (1.5 SD), 5% (1.7 SD), and 2% (2.0 SD).
Screening decisions can be made using the DIAL-3 Total score, Speed DIAL Total score, or a combination of subtest scores.
DIAL-3 Total, Speed DIAL, and subtest scores also can be converted to percentile ranks or standard scores (mean = 100, SD = 15).
|
| Subtests |
see above |
| Composites |
see above |
| Domain |
NA |
| Norm groups available |
General population, in 2-month intervals by age |
| Interpretive features |
Report to Parents available in English and Spanish Parent-Child activities available in English and Spanish |
| Computerized scoring |
ASSIST scoring software available for Windows and Macintosh includes optional report to parents, parent-child activities, and group reporting capabilities |
|
Technical Information- Standardization |
| Description |
DIAL-3 was standardized for English and Spanish speakers based on data from a stratified sample of children ages 3-6 to 6-11. |
| Date |
1995 - 1997 |
| Size |
English - 1,560; Spanish - 605
Based on Census data for 1994 |
|
Sample
|
| controlled for: |
Females
|
Males |
| Age/Gender |
Yes |
Yes |
| Race |
Yes |
Yes |
| Geographic region |
Yes |
Yes |
| SES/parent education |
Yes |
Yes |
| Community size |
No |
No |
| Special populations included |
Standardization sample includes children who were receiving special services. |
Standardization sample includes children who were receiving special services. |
|
Reliability |
| Internal consistency |
Motor .66
Concepts .84
Language .77
DIAL-3 Total .87
Self-Help .78
Social .85
Speed DIAL .80 |
| Test-retest |
3-6 to 4-5
Motor: .69
Concepts: .85
Language: .85
DIAL-3 Total: .88
Self-Help: .75
Social: .77
Speed DIAL: .84
4-6 to 5-10
Motor: .67
Concepts: .74
Language: .78
DIAL-3 Total: .84
Self-Help: .79
Social: .85
Speed DIAL:.82
|
| Interrater |
No |
| Standard Errors of Measurement |
Yes |
|
Validity |
| Intercorrelations |
Yes |
| Content |
Yes |
| Concurrent |
Yes |
| Predictive |
None reported |
| Factor analysis |
No |
| Clinical sample |
N/A, means and SDs are reported for the children in the standardization sample who were receiving special services |
| Other instruments used in correlation studies |
DIAL-R; Early Screening Profiles (ESP); Battelle Developmental Inventory Screening Test (BDIST); Bracken Basic Concept Scale, Screening Test, Form A; Brigance Preschool Screen; Differential Ability Scales (DAS); Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Third Edition (PPVT-III); and Social Skills Rating System (SSRS)
|
|
Other |
| Developmental history |
DIAL-3 is a revision of the DIAL-R. The DIAL-R was originally published by Childcraft in 1983. The AGS Publishing edition of the DIAL-R was published in 1990 with reanalyzed norms. Both DIAL-R and DIAL-3 grew out of the original DIAL, published in 1975. |
| Special features |
The Spanish version was carefully translated and adapted, including a detailed review by bilingual early childhood professionals, prior to standardization. DIAL-3 content is based on skills early childhood educators deemed necessary in regular classroom situations. The items assess skills known to be predictive of learning problems. Chapter 2 in the manual delineates theoretical support for each of the items included in the Motor, Concepts, and Language areas of the DIAL-3. |
| Federal mandates met |
Assesses the five areas mandated by federal law for preschool assessment. Appropriate for Head Start screening. |
| Adaptation for special needs |
Demonstration, training items, and sample items are used to give children the opportunity to understand the requirements of each task. |
| Sensitivity to other cultures |
Extensive bias reviews of the DIAL, DIAL-R, and DIAL-3 support this test's appropriateness for children from various socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. The Spanish version was reviewed for appropriateness for all U.S. Hispanic groups. |
| Training options available |
Kit includes detailed instructions for conducting a DIAL-3 training workshop, including a training packet of blackline masters in English and Spanish. An optional 45-minute video also is available in both languages to enhance training through visual examples of the screening situation and item administration. |