Psychometric Characteristics of Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning (DIAL)

Sadeghi, Meysam; Amani, Malahat; Abbassi, Hadi; Zolfaghari, Shadi

doi:10.22054/jem.2025.82286.3575

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

¹ Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran

² Department of Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

³ Department of Educational Sciences & Counseling, University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran, Iran

⁴ Department of Clinical Psychology, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22054/jem.2025.82286.3575

Abstract

The Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning (DIAL) serves as a screening tool to identify children at risk of developmental delays and academic difficulties. This study examined the psychometric properties of the DIAL among Iranian children. The target population comprised children aged 2.5 to 6 years in Tehran and Bojnord, with a cluster random sample of 336 participants selected from kindergartens across both cities. Preliminary test administration and interviews indicated that the DIAL demonstrates appropriate relevance for assessing learning readiness in Iranian preschool-aged children. The analysis revealed statistically significant differences across age levels in all subdomains: motor skills (p<0.0001), conceptual understanding (p<0.0001), language development (p<0.0001), self-help skills (p<0.0001), and social-emotional development (p<0.0001). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the factorial structure of the Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning (DIAL), with all fit indices meeting recommended thresholds.

Keywords

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Psychometric Characteristics of Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning (DIAL)

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Volume 16, Issue 62December 2025Pages 53-82

Volume 16, Issue 62
December 2025
Pages 53-82