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.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 261-280 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | Journal of Writing Research |
| Volume | 4 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2012 |
Keywords
- Accommodations
- College students
- Learning disabilities
- Word processor
- Writing
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Education
- Language and Linguistics
- Linguistics and Language
- Literature and Literary Theory