Computer Adaptive SPEAK
The Survey of Parent/Provider Expectations And Knowledge (SPEAK®) is a measurement tool developed by the TMW Center in 2014 to assess parents’ and providers’ understanding of early childhood cognitive and language development. In an effort to make the tool more precise and scalable, the TMW Center has developed a version of SPEAK that uses computer-adaptive testing, called SPEAK CAT™. This version of the survey streamlines assessment by adapting to the individual responding to the questions and issuing new questions based on the level of knowledge they’ve displayed. A pool of 600 potential questions has been developed based on a literature review of more than 2,000 published articles, and each survey item was beta tested with hundreds of individuals to ensure clarity and accessibility.
The SPEAK CAT™ is used in TMW Center studies and research partnerships. It is also available to other researchers who develop and assess interventions, as well as practitioners and providers who support and serve parents directly. The results of the SPEAK CAT™ provide a comprehensive and useful picture of respondents’ knowledge and beliefs, which can be used to deliver information and interventions tailored to their specific needs, meaning they will be better supported and prepared to optimize their children’s foundational brain development.