Linguistic Modification of Math Test Items
Intervention Details
Subject
MathAcademic Program
English as a Second Language (ESL) ProgramDuration
50 minutesGrades
7, 8Personnel
N/A
Intervention Summary
Linguistic modification is a theory-and research-based process for changing the language in test items in ways that support clarity without simplifying or significantly altering the targeted construct assessed. The linguistic modification is intended to target the reduction of construct-irrelevant language demands (for example, semantic and syntactic complexity) of text through strategies such as reduced sentence length and complexity, use of common or familiar words, and use of concrete language. The linguistic modification is used to facilitate comprehension and increase access to tested content for English language learner students.
Grades
7, 8Personnel
N/AStatistical Finding Summary
Positive effect on math performance for English language learner (EL) students and non-English-language-arts-proficient non-EL (NEP) students
No effect on math performance for English language arts-proficient non-EL (EP) students
No change in the underlying math construct being measured by the items
Items were more closely tied to the underlying factor (math understanding) for EL and NEP students on the linguistically modified item set than on the original item set
Source
Carole, G., Chun-Wei, H., Edynn, S. & Stanley, R. (2010). Accommodations for English Language Learner Students: The Effect of Linguistic Modification of Math Test Item Sets. Final Report. NCEE 2009-4079 (ED510556). ERIC. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED510556.pdf.
Data Sample by Population
These charts show the characteristics of the student populations studied. When assessing programs, you may want to prioritize interventions that yielded success in a similar demographic environment as your school or district.
The subgroup population data as studied here are not available. That means that while this study may work well for your setting, we cannot say based on the published study and results from our system’s reading of that study what the school/district subgroup characteristics were when evaluated here.