MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR THE DESCRIPTION OI PARTICIPANTS IN LEARNING-DISABILITIES RESEARCH

In 1984, the research committee of the Council for Learning Disabiliti es (CLD) noted that the available descriptions of individuals with LD in research reports were vague and inconsistent. Recognizing that such descriptions made it difficult to evaluate research findings, the com mittee recommended that specific guidelines for participant descriptio ns be followed in reports on research involving individuals with LD. E ight years after this call for greater uniformity, vague participant d escriptors remain a matter of great concern. What follows is a report on this issue from the current CLD research committee. Updated guideli nes for the description of participants are provided for both small-sa mple and large-group research activities. Also, suggestions for promot ing compliance with the minimum standards are forwarded. Rather than b eing viewed as a fixed, immutable product, the current attempt at iden tifying the minimum standards for the description of participants shou ld be viewed merely as one step in an ongoing process. Clearly, as our multidisciplinary field continues to learn more about LD, additional information about participants may be deemed necessary. With this in m ind, the CLD research committee welcomes your comments on the present set of guidelines and invites your suggestions for future iterations o f this document.