Computer Adaptive SPEAK
The Survey of Parent/Provider Expectations And Knowledge (SPEAK®) is a measurement tool developed by the TMW Center to assess parents’ and providers’ understanding of early childhood cognitive and language development. Given the pivotal role that parents and caregivers—and in particular, the quality of language and interaction they provide—play in shaping young children’s development, it is necessary to assess what they know and believe about that process. In fact, TMW Center research has found that parents’ knowledge of early childhood development is predictive of how much brain-building behavior they engage in, and ultimately, of their child’s skill formation. One of our studies found that a parent’s beliefs about child development explain up to 18.7% of the variation in child language skills 18 months later.
And yet, prior to the development of the SPEAK, the early childhood field had no means of measuring this critical input.
The current version of SPEAK uses computer-adaptive testing, meaning it adapts to the individual responding to the questions and issues new questions based on the level of knowledge they’ve displayed. It is accessible on computers, smart phones, and tablets, and takes only 2-5 minutes to complete.
SPEAK results 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.
The SPEAK 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. If you are interested in exploring a potential research partnership using SPEAK, email TMWCenter@uchicago.edu.