THE SPELLING PROJECT

Results of an analysis of a newly developed spelling test and several related measures are reported. Information about the reliability of a newly developed spelling test; its distribution of scores; its relationship with the standard battery of aptitude tests of the Johnson O’Connor Research Foundation; and its relationships with sex, age, education, college major, and laterality were studied using a sample of clients of the Johnson O’Connor Research Foundation (clients seeking information about aptitudes for career and educational planning). A total of 1,080 adult examinees completed at least part of the spelling measures. Measurement precision appears excellent for the new measure. The strongest relationships for spelling ability were with English vocabulary, reading efficiency, nthaber checking, age, and years of education. Sex differences were found, although there was little indication of relationships with examinee laterality or parental handedness. Correlation with English vocabulary was substantially greater than correlations with other standard battery measures. Although there may be distinct aptitudes or other dispositions that affect spelling ability, spelling itself appears to be a learned skill and not an inherent aptitude. Seventeen tables present study findings, and four figures illustrate score distributions and the age curve for ability. (Contains 88 references.) (SLD)