Development Of Literacy Skills Checklist In Urdu

Abstract

Background: Literacy has come to be seen as important aspect in nation’s development since being functionally literate is fundamental to all forms of both successes in school and in life. 'Literacy' seems to be a word that everyone is familiar with at first glance. However, literacy as a notion appears to be the most intricate and dynamic phrase.

Except Urdu language Literacy Skills Checklists are available in multiple languages, the purpose of the study was to develop a Literacy skills checklist in Urdu language. This checklist can be used by school teachers, parents, psychologists, speech and language pathologists and other professionals to assess the progress of the children with age ranges 2-7 years (2years, 2-3years, 3-4years, 4-5years, 5-6years 6-7year) according to their chronological age.

Objective:To develop a Literacy Skills Checklist in Urdu Language.

Methods:The cross-sectional study design was used in the study. The sample size was 96, consisted of typical and atypical children divided equally in two groups. Nonprobability convenient sampling technique was used in the study. The children were included according to their chronological age, from age 2-7 years. Data was collected from daycare, different institutions and home-settings of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. In the development of literacy skill checklist, during the first phase item generation was done. The construction and selection of the specific test items was guided by literature and following the normal developmental milestone in the area of language and literacy development. In the 2nd phase checklist was evaluated by 10 experts for content validity. Pilot testing was done on typical and atypical participants. Internal consistency of the items was calculated through Cronbach’s Alpha. Data was analyzed through SPSS IBM version 25.

Results: There were total 107 items in the checklist, after the content validation process, some items got removed because of low CVI-Index values that were 0. After that piloting was done on typical and atypical children. After piloting again some items got removed because of low Cronbach’s alpha value (less than .700). Total 90 final items were in the checklist, 19 items for 2 years of age, 12items for 2-3years, 18 items for 3-4years, 17 items for 4-5years, 15 items for 5-6years and 9 items for 6-7 years of age. The level for the reliability statistics was not less than .750. The reliability statistics value for 2 years checklist items was .750, .870 for 2 to 3 years checklist items, .912 for 3 to 4 years checklist items, .800 for 4 to 5 years checklist items, .889 for 5 to 6

years checklist items, .797 for 6 to7 years checklist items.

Conclusion :It is determined that the designed checklist's results have high internal consistency values ranging from (.750 to.912). As a result, the Development of Literacy Skills Checklist in Urdu is a valid and reliable tool for assessment and Interventional plans in schools and clinical settings. Could only be used in Urdu-speaking communities for practical findings