A cross-sectional survey of educational psychologists' utilisation of dynamic assessment

Abstract

This study set out to determine the extent to which educational psychologists in South Africa are familiar with and use dynamic assessment. The study also covered issues such as the dynamic assessment training that educational psychologists receive as well as their attitudes towards dynamic assessment. A review of the literature revealed that only international studies have been done on the use of dynamic assessment by school psychologists. The findings of international studies can, however, not summarily be generalised to the South African context. The only national study that has been done on the use of dynamic assessment by educational psychologists was a qualitative study. The present study endeavoured to address this research hiatus by conducting a national cross-sectional online survey that was sent to all educational psychologists in South Africa. The study sought to find an answer to the following primary research question: "To what extent are South African educational psychologists familiar with and use dynamic assessment?" The sample was selected initially through purposive sampling and later through snowball sampling. The study found that of the 173 respondents who responded to the survey, 69,90% were familiar with dynamic assessment. However, this picture changed dramatically when they were asked to what extent they were familiar with dynamic assessment. A total of only 25,40% of the respondents indicated that they were quite familiar with dynamic assessment, and only 20,80% reported that they used dynamic assessment. Furthermore, only 8,10% had used dynamic assessment once a week during the past six months.