Revision and Restandardization of a Preschool Screening Test: DIAL Becomes DIAL-R

Abstract

A widely used preschool screening test, DIAL (Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning) was revised and restandardized on a national sample of 2,447 children. The age range was extended to include four chronological years (2-0 to 6-0) and the format was modified by combining gross motor and fine motor skills into one Motor area, The rationale for the test construction and test standardization are discussed and the establishment of norms in the form of cut-off points are described. This new test, DIAL-R, appears to accurately identify a full range of performance, potential giftedness as well as potential problems. However, it is considered by the authors as merely a definitive first step in identifying young children at either end of the continuum of readiness skills who may be in need of additional services.