TY - JOUR
T1 - Ten steps to conducting a large, multi-site, longitudinal investigation of language and reading in young children
AU - Language and Reading Research Consortium (LAARC)
AU - Farquharson, Kelly
AU - Murphy, Kimberly A.
AU - Justice, Laura M.
AU - Lomax, Richard
AU - O'Connell, Ann
AU - Pentimonti, Jill
AU - Petrill, Stephen A.
AU - Piasta, Shayne B.
AU - Gray, Shelley
AU - Restrepo, Maria
AU - Cain, Kate
AU - Catts, Hugh
AU - Bridges, Mindy
AU - Nielsen, Diane
AU - Hogan, Tiffany
AU - Bovaird, Jim
AU - Ron Nelson, J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Language and Reading Research Consortium, Farquharson and Murphy.
PY - 2016/3/30
Y1 - 2016/3/30
N2 - Purpose: This paper describes methodological procedures involving execution of a large-scale, multi-site longitudinal study of language and reading comprehension in young children. Researchers in the Language and Reading Research Consortium (LARRC) developed and implemented these procedures to ensure data integrity across multiple sites, schools, and grades. Specifically, major features of our approach, as well as lessons learned, are summarized in 10 steps essential for successful completion of a large-scale longitudinal investigation in early grades. Method: Over 5 years, children in preschool through third grade were administered a battery of 35 higher- and lower-level language, listening, and reading comprehension measures (RCM). Data were collected from children, their teachers, and their parents/guardians at four sites across the United States. Substantial and rigorous effort was aimed toward maintaining consistency in processes and data management across sites for children, assessors, and staff. Conclusion: With appropriate planning, flexibility, and communication strategies in place, LARRC developed and executed a successful multi-site longitudinal research study that will meet its goal of investigating the contribution and role of language skills in the development of children's listening and reading comprehension. Through dissemination of our design strategies and lessons learned, research teams embarking on similar endeavors can be better equipped to anticipate the challenges.
AB - Purpose: This paper describes methodological procedures involving execution of a large-scale, multi-site longitudinal study of language and reading comprehension in young children. Researchers in the Language and Reading Research Consortium (LARRC) developed and implemented these procedures to ensure data integrity across multiple sites, schools, and grades. Specifically, major features of our approach, as well as lessons learned, are summarized in 10 steps essential for successful completion of a large-scale longitudinal investigation in early grades. Method: Over 5 years, children in preschool through third grade were administered a battery of 35 higher- and lower-level language, listening, and reading comprehension measures (RCM). Data were collected from children, their teachers, and their parents/guardians at four sites across the United States. Substantial and rigorous effort was aimed toward maintaining consistency in processes and data management across sites for children, assessors, and staff. Conclusion: With appropriate planning, flexibility, and communication strategies in place, LARRC developed and executed a successful multi-site longitudinal research study that will meet its goal of investigating the contribution and role of language skills in the development of children's listening and reading comprehension. Through dissemination of our design strategies and lessons learned, research teams embarking on similar endeavors can be better equipped to anticipate the challenges.
KW - Language development
KW - Longitudinal studies
KW - Protocols
KW - Reading comprehension
KW - Reading development
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84963705134&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00419
DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00419
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84963705134
SN - 1664-1078
VL - 7
JO - Frontiers in Psychology
JF - Frontiers in Psychology
IS - MAR
M1 - 419
ER -