Development and examination of the psychometric properties of the Learning Disability Screening Tool (LDST)

The aim of this research is to develop the Learning Disability Screening Tool (LDST) and to examine its psychometric properties to identify primary school students at risk for learning disabilities. The lack of a group screening tool that can be administered to students at risk of learning disabilities in Turkey and in the international literature constitutes the problem addressed in this study. As part of the research, a literature review was conducted initially, and the theoretical framework of the scale was established by examining existing scales and studies. Based on expert feedback, subtests and items comprising the subtests were developed in line with the structure of the scale. During the scale development process, a preliminary trial was conducted with 85 students, a pilot study with 120 students, and the main application with 429 students. Following the analyses, the final form of the scale was established, and its psychometric properties were examined. The final form of the scale consists of three subtests: reasoning, number sequence, and reading comprehension. The scale includes a total of 33 items. The reliability of the scale was examined through internal consistency coefficients. To assess the validity of the scale, construct validity, criterion validity, and discriminant validity analyses were performed. The findings indicate that the LDST has sufficient levels of validity and reliability.