Validation of Screening Checklist for the Children with Specific Learning Difficulties Consistent with Pakistani Norms

This paper delineated the development and validation of the diagnostic tool for children with specific learning difficulties in Urdu language among the students in mainstream classrooms. Teachers of class six and seven (both boys and girls students) of Govt. schools of Lahore city teaching Urdu subject constituted the population of the study. A sample of 202 teachers was given Screening Checklist to screen out the students with below 30% achievement in Urdu and average IQ. About 1013 students were identified through this tool and with the help of other procedures of the identification of SLD as discriminate analysis with achievement and IQ scores. Purposive sampling technique was adopted based on Ability IQ test, achievement in Urdu subject and other associated problems observed by the teachers. Validity of the Screening Checklist was established with content and Rotated Component Matrix of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis methods. Reliability of the Screening Checklist was determined with Cronbach Alpha. The conclusions of the research reflected that the Screening Checklist had good content and factorial validities. Similarly, the instrument had good reliability in terms of internal consistency.