Norm-referenced test-this is an assessment in which two test takers performance is compared with the performance of people in a norm group. Norms are a set of scores that represents the distribution of test performance in a norm group. The research article is ”The Phonological Awareness Scale of Early Childhood Period (PASECP). The research study was developed in a particular region of Istanbul.

1. Questions regarding the study.

a) Were the items used in the (PASECP) valid and reliable?

b) Was there a difference in phonological skills between the attending school children paired to the children who were not attending school?

c) Does the phonics awareness of children who are brought up in a low-income family differ from a child who comes from an upper middle-class family?

2. The Variables Studied

The research was used to develop a measuring tool that would determine the phonological awareness levels of children in early childhood programs. The researcher wanted to make sure that the (PASECP) tool was being used and was valid and reliable in the study of the article. The criteria for evaluating technical accuracy of test states “Evidence of at least one type of validity should be presented for the major types of inferences for which the use teat of a test is recommended.” (Lehr, Ysseldyke, & Thurlow, 1986). The target population was composed of 60-72-month-old children in which lived in the city of Istanbul. 2011-2012 was the school year that the study was performed. 27 children were also selected who did not go to preschool, they were selected to determine the structural validity of the scale that was developed.

3. Sample

The first information was collected from 106 students that were enrolled in a preschool. In the norm study, the target population was composed of children that were the age of 5 to 6 years old. The study used the cluster sampling method, to determine the cities, schooling types and the different population demographics. “Cluster sampling is an example of two stage sampling. First stage a sample of areas is chosen. Second stage a sample of respondents that are in those areas are selected.” (Chaturedi, 30) When using cluster sampling the population is divided up into units, which is based on geographical contiguity. 27 children who are not in a preschool program were chosen by random sampling. The number of samples was 733.

4. Gathering of Data

The teachers used the phonological awareness scale, which has eight sub directories of phonological awareness. In total there are 78 test items. The test was looking for beginning sound detection, are the children able to generate a new word from what is related to the desired phoneme. Are they able to group the words with the same sounds, can they blend the sounds and are they able to separate the syllables. The child’s alphabetical knowledge was also tested. The test is administered individually to students. The testing period lasted for approximately 15 minutes per each child.

5. Results

The valid of the test. From the data collected and the scale items that were measured all of them related to phonological awareness. The scale had validity according to the specialists. The study stated that the test passed reliability. The individuals tha