Instrumentos de avaliação da linguagem: uma perspetiva global

Neste capítulo é feita uma síntese das principais metodologias usadas para a avaliação da linguagem e é efetuada uma síntese dos instrumentos desenvolvidos e/ou adaptados para a avaliação da linguagem em Português Europeu (incluindo público-alvo e dimensões avaliadas).CIEC - Centro de Investigação em Estudos da Criança, IE, UMinho (UI 317 da FCT), Portugalinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Face-to-face versus remote: effects of an intervention in reading fluency during COVID-19 pandemic

Fluency is a central skill for successful reading. Research has provided evidence that systematic reading fluency interventions can be effective. However, research is scarce on the effects of interventions delivered remotely versus face-to-face. This study investigated the efficacy of a systematic and standardized intervention for promoting reading fluency in third-grade students (N = 207) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study had a pretest, posttest, and follow-up design, with two intervention groups (remote vs face-to-face) and a control group. The intervention groups experienced 20 intervention sessions (2 sessions per week), each lasting approximately 50 min. Word reading accuracy, text reading accuracy, and fluency were measured in the three rounds of assessment. In both intervention groups, all measures of reading showed gains from pretest to posttest. The results also suggested that the efficacy of the intervention was similar in the remote and face-to-face modalities. These findings highlight the relevance of systematic interventions in increasing reading fluency and support the use of remote interventions as an adequate alternative to face-to-face interventions.This work was financially supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science (FCT) and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology, and Higher Education through national funds within the framework of the Psychology for Positive Development Research Center-CIPD (grant number UIDB/04375/2020) and the Psychology Research Centre (UIDB/PSI/01662/2020)

Parental reports of preschoolers’ lexical and syntactic development: validation of the CDI-III for European Portuguese

This study presents the validation analysis of the European Portuguese version of the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory III (CDI-III-PT). The CDI-III-PT is a parental report measure allowing researchers to assess expressive vocabulary and the syntactic abilities of children aged 2;6–4;0. In this study, we present a version comprising a lexical subscale which follows the Swedish adaptation and an original syntactic subscale allowing us to include language-specific structures. The reports of 739 children were collected; in addition, a standardized measure of language was also administered to a sub-sample of these children and the reports of preschool teachers were collected for another sub-sample. The results indicate a high internal consistency of the lexical and syntactic subscales. As for sociodemographic variables often found to be predictors of language development, as measured by this type of instrument, the results indicate that age and maternal education are significant predictors of the scores, and that first-born children attain higher scores in vocabulary than later born children, but no significant gender differences were found. The scores of the CDI-III-PT are positively correlated with the ones obtained in the standardized languagemeasure, thus supporting their validity. A high agreement between the reports of parents and teachers was also found. These findings indicate that the CDI-III-PT has adequate psychometric properties and that it can be a useful tool for research and clinical practice. The age-based norms that are now provided can be used to evaluate whether a child is performing poorly compared to their peers.This work was financially supported by Portuguese national funds through the FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology) within the framework of the CIEC (Research Center for Child Studies of the University of Minho) projects under the references UIDB/00317/2020 and UIDP/00317/2020

Aprender a compreender. Da teoria à prática pedagógica

Resumo Neste artigo são apresentados dois programas de ensino explícito da compreensão de leitura – “Aprender a compreender torna mais fácil o saber” e “Aprender a compreender… Do saber ao saber fazer” – destinados a alunos do 3.º ao 6.º anos de escolaridade e que podem ser desenvolvidos em contexto de sala de aula ou em contexto de grupo de apoio/recuperação. São apresentados exemplos de operacionalização das estratégias propostas, com o recurso à Família Compreensão, um conjunto de personagens especialmente criado para estes programas com o objetivo de modelar, no leitor, o uso das estratégias mais adequadas para executar as tarefas, munindo-o de instrumentos para regular a sua compreensão e colmatar lacunas e/ou dificuldades em compreender quer os textos lidos, quer as próprias perguntas que orientam a leitura dos mesmos. Palavras chave: Compreensão da leitura, ensino explícito, metacogniçãoThis article presents two reading comprehension teaching programs. “Aprender a compreender torna mais fácil o saber” and “Aprender a compreender. Do saber… ao saber fazer” created for students from the 3rd to the 6th year of scholarship. They can be developed during class or in support/recovery work groups. In the programs, examples of the proposed learning strategies are presented, through the use of the “Comprehension Family”, a set of characters created specifically for these programs with the purpose of giving the readers different ways to use strategies fitted to complete each task, and also different instruments to regulate comprehension and complement possible gaps and/or difficulties in comprehending the texts read and the questions that complement them.CIEC - Centro de Investigação em Estudos da Criança, UM (UI 317 da FCT

Developmetrics Invariance on a reading comprehension test in European Portuguese: A differential item functioning analysis between students from rural and urban areas

The aim of this study was to determine whether the items from a reading comprehension test in European Portuguese function differently across students from rural and urban areas, which biases the test validity and the equity in assessment. The sample was composed of 653 students from second, third and fourth grades. The presence of differential item functioning (DIF) was analysed using logistic regression and the Mantel -Haenszel procedure. Although 17 items were flagged with DIF, only five items showed non-negligible DIF in all effect-size measures. The evidence of invariance across students with rural or urban backgrounds for most of the items supports the validity of the test though the five identified items should be further investigated

Effects of listening comprehension, word recognition, and oral reading fluency on reading comprehension in second-grade students

Several studies have provided evidence regarding the importance of listening comprehension, word recognition and oral reading fluency in successful reading comprehension; however, most of the research has been conducted with English language speakers. This study aims to examine the direct effects of these three variables on reading comprehension using a sample of European Portuguese speakers. A sample of 325 second- grade Portuguese students completed the Test of Word Reading, the Reading Fluency Assessment Test, the Test of Listening Comprehension of Narrative Texts and the Test of Reading Comprehension of Narrative Texts. Path analysis showed that listening comprehension, word recognition and oral reading fluency were all significant predictors with unique effects on reading comprehension at this grade level. The combination of all three predictors explained 41% of the variance observed in reading comprehension. The results are discussed in terms of the practical implications and limitations of the study, and guidelines for future research are presented.CIEC – Research Centre on Child Studies, IE, UMinho (FCT R&D unit 317), PortugalThis study was conducted at Psychology Research Centre, University of Minho, and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science through national funds and, when applicable, co-financed by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (UID/PSI/01662/2013) and by grant FCOMP-01-0124- FEDER-010733 from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) through the European program COMPETE (Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors) under the National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The interrelatedness between infants’ communicative gestures and lexicon size: a longitudinal study

Research has shown a close relationship between gestures and language development. In this study, we investigate the cross-lagged relationships between different types of gestures and two lexicon dimensions: number of words produced and comprehended. Information about gestures and lexical development was collected from 48 typically developing infants when these were aged 0;9, 1;0 and 1;3. The European Portuguese version of the MacArthur–Bates Communicative Development Inventory: Words and Gestures (PT CDI:WG) was used. The results indicated that the total number of actions and gestures and the number of early gestures produced at 0;9 and at 1;0 year predicted the number of words comprehended three months later. Actions and gestures’ predictive power of the number of words produced was limited to the 0;9–1;0 year interval. The opposite relationship was not found: word comprehension and production did not predict action and gestures three months later. These results highlight the importance of non-verbal commu- nicative behavior in language development.CiPsi - Psychology Research Centre, Uminho (UID/PSI/ 01662/2013), PortugalCIEC – Research Centre on Child Studies, IE, UMinho (FCT R&D unit 317), PortugalNational Funds through the FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology) and co-financed by European Regional Development Funds (FEDER) through the Competitiveness and Internationalization Operational Program (POCI) with the reference POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653 and POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007562info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Efecto de un programa de intervención en los procesos y estrategias para la comprensión lectora en estudiantes de 5º y 6º grado

Background: Various investigations have revealed that the promotion of cognitive and metacognitive strategies can improve reading comprehension and that when readers receive this type of instruction, they can use monitoring processes and regulation strategies adequately. The goal of this work is to analyze the effects of strategic and metacognitive instruction on reading comprehension processes and strategies, using the "Aprender a Comprender" [Learning to Understand] program. Method: Instruction was carried out in the classroom by two teachers during six months. Ninety-four students participated, 49 from 5th grade and 45 from 6th grade. A pretest-intervention-posttest-follow-up design was used with a comparison group by grade. Results: The analysis of variance shows an impact of the intervention and its differential maintenance in each grade. The 5th-grade intervention group scored higher than the comparison group in the reading comprehension test, both at posttest and at follow-up. The 6th-grade intervention group scored higher than the comparison group in the Planning scale, both at posttest and at follow-up. Conclusions: Textual strategy instruction favors reading comprehension and the progressive development of planning, which is necessary for supervision and regulation, and its effects are maintained over time.Antecedentes: diferentes investigaciones han evidenciado que el fomento de estrategias cognitivas y metacognitivas puede mejorar la comprensión lectora y su instrucción favorece la utilización adecuada de los procesos de monitoreo y de las estrategias de regulación. El objetivo del estudio es analizar los efectos de la instrucción estratégica y metacognitiva con el programa “Aprender a Comprender” en los procesos y estrategias para la comprensión lectora. Método: la instrucción se llevó a cabo durante seis meses, en el aula, a cargo de dos docentes. Participaron 94 escolares, 49 de 5º grado y 45 de 6º grado. Se utilizó un diseño pretest-intervenciónpostest-seguimiento con un grupo de comparación por grado. Resultados: los análisis de varianza muestran un impacto de la intervención y su mantenimiento diferencial en cada grado. Los estudiantes del grupo de intervención de 5º grado puntuaron más alto en la prueba de comprensión lectora en postest y en el seguimiento. Los del grupo de intervención de 6º grado puntuaron más alto en la escala de planifi cación tanto en postest como en el seguimiento. Conclusiones: la instrucción estratégica textual favorece la comprensión lectora y el progresivo desarrollo de la planifi cación necesaria para su supervisión y regulación, manteniendo sus efectos en el tiempo.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Well-being and academic achievement in secondary school pupils: The unique effects of burnout and engagement

The main goal of this study was to examine the relationship among burnout, engagement, well-being, and academic performance in Portuguese secondary school pupils. The existence of gender related differences in these relationships was also investigated. The sample was composed of 489 pupils who attended an academic track at secondary school. Results of multi-group structural equation modelling indicated that higher levels of cynicism towards studies were associated with lower academic achievement. Exhaustion was not uniquely related to the adolescents' academic achievement or well-being. However, higher levels of engagement, namely dedication and vigour, were related to higher levels of wellbeing. Moreover, vigour was also uniquely associated with academic achievement. The results were similar for boys and girls. Implications for intervention and future research are discussed. (C) 2016 The Foundation for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This study was partially conducted at Psychology Research Centre (UID/PSI/01662/2013), University of Minho, and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, through national funds, and co-financed by FEDER, through COMPETE2020, under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653). The first author is also supported by grant SFRH/BPD/102549/2014 from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Peer relations and gender: contributes of the adaptation of Peer Relations Questionnaire to Portuguese adolescents

A compreensão das diferenças de género nos comportamentos ajustados ou pró-sociais e nas relações de violência entre os pares, seja na perspetiva do perpetrador ou da vítima, é essencial para a educação. Com o conhecimento destes fenómenos podemos reconhecer sinais e comportamentos, mas também ajustar a intervenção psicoeducativa, de forma a promover o desenvolvimento integral de todos os alunos. Por conseguinte, este trabalho centra-se em dois objectivos: avaliar as propriedades psicométricas do Peer Relations Questionnaire na população Portuguesa e, partindo dos resultados obtidos no mesmo, explorar as relações entre pares em função do género. Para isso, foram realizados dois estudos junto de duas amostras, com 304 e 712 adolescentes, com idades compreendidas entre os 11 e os 16 anos. Os resultados forneceram evidência de validade e fidelidade para o instrumento. Resultados de estudos diferenciais e de associação apontaram ainda diferenças significativas na relação entre pares em função do género, com os rapazes a apresentarem maior nível de violência em relação aos pares, mas também a relatarem ser mais vítimas dessa violência, comparativamente com as raparigas. Inversamente, as raparigas parecem exibir maiores níveis de comportamento pró-social. Encontrou-se ainda uma relação negativa entre violência e idade, assim como com a escolaridade do pai. Estes resultados são discutidos neste artigo à luz da literatura existente, apresentando-se também as suas implicações para a investigação e intervençãoUnderstanding the differences in peers’ relationships between genders, whether these relationships are characterized by the existence of prosocial behavior or violence towards others, are essential for education. Only with the appropriate knowledge of this reality we can recognize signs and behaviors but also adjust the psycho-educational intervention to promote the integral development of all students. Therefore, this paper is focused on two goals: to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Peer Relations Questionnaire in the Portuguese population and, using the results obtained in it, to explore the existence of differences in the relationships between peers by gender. Two studies have been conducted using two samples, composed of 304 and 712 adolescents aged between 11 and 16 years old. The results provided evidence for the instrument validity and reliability. Results from the differences and association tests, also allowed us to find significant differences in peer relationship by gender, with boys being more violent to peers but also being more victims that type of violence, and girls demonstrating more prosocial behavior. A negative relationship between violent behavior and age was also found, as well as between violent behavior of the adolescents and the father’s academic qualifications. These results are discussed based on the literature, and implications for research and intervention are presented.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio