התאמת המבחן PLAI-2 לעברית: מחקר חלוץ

The PLAI-2 test focuses on children's ability to integrate cognitive, linguistic, and pragmatic components to effectively engage in discourse within a learning environment. This test presents a four-level assessment model that represents a gradual progression from immediate perceptual information to increasingly complex cognitive-linguistic demands. The purpose of this pioneering study was to examine the suitability of the PLAI -2 test for Hebrew. In the first stage, the test was translated from English and adapted to Hebrew. The adaptation process included several established methods, including translation and back-translation from Hebrew to English, comparing the results with the original English version, utilizing focus groups of speech-language therapy (SLT) clinicians to discuss linguistic and cultural issues, and analyzing the percentage of correct responses for each item. The article outlines various linguistic and cultural adaptations made to specific test items. In the second phase, the test was administered to 46 Hebrew-speaking children aged four to six years. The usability of the test was evaluated, and its reliability (internal consistency, test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability) and validity (construct validity,criterion validity) were assessed. The results showed that the test is usable, reliable, and valid. In conclusion, the test enables speech therapists to assess the levels of verbal abstraction underlying educational discourse in kindergarten and clinical settings and to adjust oral stimuli and tasks accordingly. The test does not replace other assessments of language abilities specific to Hebrew, but it provides valuable insights into a child's abstraction capabilities and their ability to participate in verbal interactions.