The Infancy to Preschool Early Literacy Connection: Validation Studies of the Early Communication (ECI) Indicator of Growth and Development

Abstract

Purpose: The primary objective of this project is to advance the technical standards and decision-making utility of a progress monitoring measure of early communication for infants and toddlers, the Early Communication Indicator (ECI). ECI is a play-based assessment that uses standard toy sets as alternate test forms to monitor children’s growth in expressive communication. This project will conduct an investigation to provide predictive validity evidence in support of ECI for monitoring the progress of infants and toddlers. ECI key skill elements (i.e., gestures, vocalizations, and single and multiple word utterances) and total communication fluency will be recorded longitudinally in a sample of infants and toddlers from 6 to 36 months to investigate the dynamic relations among changes in these four key skill areas and the total score relative to one another over time and to predict subsequent early language and literacy outcomes at age 4. This research is (a) building upon the development of progress monitoring measures for infants and toddlers, (b) will lead to an improved understanding of the precursors of language and literacy, (c) advances a practical measurement approach in which early interventionists can achieve greater individualization of programs for children in need, and (d) promotes alignment of early education and early childhood special education systems with K-12 education systems.

Project Activities: This study will utilize a sequential cohort longitudinal design with repeated measurements of participants. There will be four cohorts of children based on age. Cohort 1 will be comprised of children who are 6 months old, Cohort 2 will be children who are 24 months old, and Cohort 3 will be children who are 36 months old. Cohort 4 will include children from the historical data sample who are now older than 36 months of age. Cohorts 1-3 will be followed longitudinally to 48 months of age. Child progress monitoring data will be collected at least quarterly, and child outcome language and early literacy data will be collected at 12, 24, 36, and 48 month age points. Cohort 4 will be assessed only at 48 months of age. Data from the historical sample will be analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to derive initial growth model and dynamic over-time relationships among the four key skill areas. Data from the new sample will be used to cross-validate the relationships derived by analyses of the historical sample. The models will also examine direct, mediational, moderational, and recipriocal effects over time.

Products: The expected outcomes from this study include:
(a) Data on the predictive validity of a progress monitoring measure of early communication for infants and toddlers, the ECI, that can be used to monitor children’s growth in expressive communication and predict subsequent early language and literacy outcomes at age 4.
(b) Presentations and published reports regarding the predictive validity of the ECI.