Master's Degree Thesis, 2001

The purpose of this study was to examine the interpretations of naming speed among average and poor (dyslexic) readers using two tests frequently referenced in research literature. One (RAN) is criterion referenced related to age and grade. Another (CTOPP) is norm referenced for age. Rapid automatic naming has been identified as a possible processing deficit independent of phonological coding and short term memory. It may, however, co-occur with these processing deficits. For a sample of average readers (grades 2, 4, 6, and 8) and students with dyslexia, comparability of performance on the 2 tests was examined by means ofPearson's Correlations, ANOV As, and t-tests. Raw score comparisons indicated that student performance was comparable on both tests. Performance of students with dyslexia was significantly different from that of the average group on the CTOPP and was approaching significance on the RAN. However, substantial disagreement (19%) as to who might be classified as exhibiting a "deficit" was noted. Implications and recommendations for more research are discussed.