Confirmatory factor analysis of responses by 211 preadolescents (M age = 10.25 years, SD = 1.48) with mild intellectual disabilities (MIDs) to the individually administered Self Description Questionnaire I-Individual Administration (SDQI-IA) counters widely cited claims that these children cannot differentiate multiple self-concept factors. Results provide clear support for the a priori eight-factor solution, modest correlations between the factors (Mdn r = .38), substantial reliabilities (Mdn = .90), and invariance of the factor solution over gender, age, and educational placement (regular vs. special, segregated classes). Also introduced is a new hybrid compromise between multigroup and multipleindicator-multiple-cause (MIMIC) approaches to latent mean differences. Consistent with a priori predictions, preadolescents with MIDs have lower self-concepts in segregated classes than in regular classes for three academic self-concept scales (reading, math, and general-school) and, to a lesser extent, peer relationships and global selfesteem, but not for the other three nonacademic components of self-concept (physical, appearance, and parent relationships).
Whereas the inclusion of children with special needs in regular classrooms has gained increasing advocacy, teachers’ attitudes vary. Previous studies examining teacher attitudes have focused on primary and secondary schools in the Western world, and little is known about early childhood settings in Eastern countries. This study used MANOVA to examine preschool teachers’ attitudes in Hong Kong (N = 410). Teachers reported only modest support for inclusion. Teachers with training in special education were stronger advocates of inclusion, irrespective of their professional roles (administrator or class teacher), for children with intellectual disability, or visual, hearing, and speech and language impairments. However, neither teacher training nor professional role made a significance difference to teachers’ support of including children with physical disability, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), specific learning difficulty, and the gifted and talented. Implications for practice and further research are explored.
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