Psychological Test with Two Pamphlets, Durrell Analysis of Reading Difficulty

Psychological Test with Two Pamphlets, Durrell Analysis of Reading Difficulty

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Description
This test was developed by Donald DeWitt Durrell (1903-2001), professor of education and director of the educational clinic at Boston University. Born in Illinois, Durrell received his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa (1926) and his master’s degree there the following year. Both his master’s thesis and the doctoral dissertation he later received from Harvard University (1930) were on the relationship between disability in reading and test performance. From Harvard, he moved to Boston University, where he spent the remainder of his career, much of it devoted to education in reading.
Durrell began work on this test in 1933 and published it with World Book Company in 1937. Later editions of the test would appear in 1957 and 1980.
The test materials may be divided into four parts. The first is an “individual record booklet.” It includes a profile chart, a check list of instructional needs, and a page for general history of the examinee. It also has tests (with space for answers) on topics such as oral reading, silent reading, listening comprehension, visual memory of words, phonic spelling of words, and spelling/handwriting. The second part, designed for use with the reading tests, is a spiral-bound notebook of paragraphs to be read. The third is a tachistoscope with related cards for use in word recognition studies. Finally there is a manual of instructions.
References:
Journal of Education, vol. 181, #1, 2000. This issue of the journal is devoted to the life and work of Durrell.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
Psychological Test with Two Pamphlets
date made
1937
publisher
World Book Company
maker
Durrell, Donald DeWitt
Physical Description
paper (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 34 cm x 25.7 cm; 13 3/8 in x 10 1/8 in
ID Number
1990.0034.122
accession number
1990.0034
catalog number
1990.0034.122
Credit Line
Gift of Samuel Kavruck
subject
Mathematics
Psychological Tests
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Mathematics
Science & Mathematics
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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