The purpose of the study is to provide information on selection of learning disabilities and perception of teachers and doctors on learning disabilities, and to explore for future research on selection of learning disabilities subjects.
Papers lis...
The purpose of the study is to provide information on selection of learning disabilities and perception of teachers and doctors on learning disabilities, and to explore for future research on selection of learning disabilities subjects.
Papers listed from 2011 to 2015 in “Learning disabilities research” published by Korea Learning disabilities Association, which has been actively participating in researches on learning disabilities, were selected as study subject. Scholarly article information service and KLDA website were used as tools for searching the papers, and 13 articles were selected with analysis confidence of 100%. Data analysis criteria included selection tools, current selection standards, RTI, DSM-5 diagnostic standard, theoretical study, and diagnostic model in the research topic. For research approach, experimental research, literature research, investigative research, and other approaches were in the sub-categories. Grade school students, professionals, literature, and DSM-5 diagnostic standard were the elements in the area of study subjects. Current selection of learning disabilities subjects was approached from educational and medical perspectives.
The results revealed that as to research topic, selection tools were most frequently chosen, followed by current selection standards, RTI, DSM-5, diagnostic standard, theoretical study, and diagnostic model. Grade school students were most frequently used as study subjects followed by professionals, literature, and DSM-5. More specifically, grades 1 and 2 had the most frequency, followed by grades 3, 4 and 5, which had the same frequency, then 6. Experimental research was the predominant approach used, followed by literature research, and investigative research. There were 3 studies on current selection of learning disabilities subjects, two of which took educational perspective, and one with medical perspective. They all abided by “conditions and procedures in selection of learning disabilities students”, proposed by Ministry of Education, Science and Technology(2010), and conducted survey on educators to understand difficulties and problems experienced by diagnostic and evaluating personnel while following those conditions and procedures. Results from study on selection of learning disabilities subjects based on two different perspectives were investigated.
The results from this study make implications on trend in selection of learning disabilities subjects and suggests future tasks. First, as to studies on selection tools, most of them were about developing tools for dyslexia and mathematical learning. Hence, more research is recommended for selection tools for students with reading and writing disabilities, instead of dyslexia. Second, experimental research was the most common form of research approach. Experimental research must be conducted not only on selection tools but also on diagnostic tools, and it is recommended that research approach not be limited to experimental research. Third, scholarly articles on selection of learning disabilities subjects showed that grade school students were the most common targeted subjects of researches. Thus, there is a need for study on upper grade levels including middle school and high school students. Fourth, current selection of disabilities subjects was examined in both educational and medical perspectives. Medical and education professionals will need to jointly study selection models, and actively conduct specific and pragmatic researches on aids and policies.
Several research suggestions were made. As this study only targets scholarly articles related to selection of learning disabilities subjects reported in “Learning disabilities Research” published by KLDA, it is necessary to conduct follow-up study on articles from different academic journals from different academic society. Moreover, as this study is only limited to articles published from 2011 to 2015, it is also recommended that the following study extends the period range of articles to investigate. Lastly, it is necessary to conduct study on the process of selecting learning disabilities subjects that was implemented after “Conditions and procedures in selection of learning disabilities students” of 2014 was announced.