Journal of Writing Research Feb 2013 OA PDF

The Effect of a Word Processor as an Accommodation for Students with Learning Disabilities

C.L. Berger ; L. Lewandowski

Abstract

The effects of writing format (handwritten (HW) versus word processor (WP)) were examined in a sample of college students with and without learning disabilities (LD). All students wrote two essays, one in each format, scored for quality and length. Groups did not differ in age, gender, ethnicity, mathematical calculation, writing fluency, essay length or essay quality. The "interaction hypothesis" was not supported, in that the use of a word processor as a writing accommodation did not provide a differential boost to students with LD. Both groups produced longer essays in the WP versus HW condition. The best predictor of essay quality was essay length regardless of writing format. Most students in each group preferred the WP format. Interestingly, a smaller percentage of students in the LD group (72%) than NLD group (91%) used the available time for writing. Keywords: accommodations, learning disabilities, college students, writing, word processor

Journal
Journal of Writing Research
Published
2013-02-01
DOI
10.17239/jowr-2013.04.03.2
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Topics
race and writing gender and writing disability studies
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