Preliminary Evaluation of Applicants to Master's Programs in Speech-Language Pathology Using Vignettes and Criteria From a Holistic Review Process

Author(s):  
Teresa M. Girolamo ◽  
Stephen Politzer-Ahles ◽  
Samantha Ghali ◽  
Brittany Theresa Williams

Purpose Little is known about how others evaluate applicants to master's programs in speech-language pathology along criteria used during holistic review despite more programs adopting holistic review. This knowledge gap limits our understanding of whether holistic admissions may offer a more equitable pathway to entering speech-language pathology. This study investigated how faculty and PhD students evaluated applicants to master's speech-language pathology programs along criteria used during holistic review. Method We administered a survey online through a Qualtrics platform. Respondents ( N = 66) were faculty and PhD candidates in U.S. speech-language-hearing departments. Survey blocks included demographics, professional background, and vignettes. Vignettes featured profiles of applicants to master's programs in speech-language pathology. Vignettes systematically varied in the indicators of applicant criteria, which were specified at low, moderate, or high levels or not specified. After reading each vignette, respondents rated the applicant and indicated their admissions decision. Analysis included descriptives. Results Relative to an applicant who was at a high level for all indicators except cultural and linguistic diversity, respondents ranked applicants who varied in their indicators of criteria levels lower. Respondents were also less likely to make an explicit “accept” decision (vs. “waitlist” or “reject”) for this latter group of applicants. Conclusions Even when implementing criteria used during holistic review, applicants who vary from a “high-achieving” stereotype may still face barriers to entry. Future work is needed to understand the precise nature of how holistic admissions review may play out in actual practice and help increase diversity in the profession.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Girolamo ◽  
Stephen Politzer-Ahles ◽  
Samantha Ghali ◽  
BRITTANY WILLIAMS

Purpose: Little is known about how others evaluate applicants to master’s programs in speech-language pathology along criteria used during holistic review, despite more programs adopting holistic review. This knowledge gap limits our understanding of whether holistic admissions may offer a more equitable pathway to entering speech-language pathology. This study investigated how faculty and Ph.D. students evaluated applicants to master’s speech-language pathology programs along criteria used during holistic review.Method: We administered a survey online through a Qualtrics platform. Respondents (N = 66) were faculty and Ph.D. candidates in U.S. speech-language-hearing departments. Survey blocks included demographics, professional background, and vignettes. Vignettes featured profiles of applicants to master’s programs in speech-language pathology. Vignettes systematically varied in the indicators of applicant criteria, which were specified at low, moderate, or high levels, or not specified. After reading each vignette, respondents rated the applicant and indicated their admissions decision. Analysis included descriptives.Results: Relative to an applicant who was at a high level for all indicators except cultural and linguistic diversity, respondents ranked applicants who varied in their indicators of criteria levels lower. Respondents were also less likely to make an explicit “accept” decision (versus “waitlist” or “reject”) for this latter group of applicants. Conclusion: Even when implementing criteria used during holistic review, applicants who vary from a “high-achieving” stereotype may still face barriers to entry. Future work is needed to understand the precise nature of how holistic admissions review may play out in actual practice and help increase diversity in the profession.


2020 ◽  
pp. 152574012096104
Author(s):  
Mark Guiberson ◽  
Debra Vigil

The purpose of this survey study was to describe screening and admission processes and considerations for graduate speech-language pathology (SLP) programs, with an eye for how programs consider cultural and linguistic diversity (CLD) in these processes. Responses were obtained from 110 graduate SLP programs. In addition to admission processes and decisions, the survey also asked specific questions about how bilingualism was considered, holistic admission processes and outcomes, and barriers to recruiting students from CLD backgrounds into programs. Based on results obtained as well as knowledge from admission considerations for other professional degree programs and trends in the field, the authors present promising undergraduate supports and holistic admission processes to recruit diverse students to graduate programs.


2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Verdon ◽  
Helen L. Blake ◽  
Suzanne C. Hopf ◽  
Ben Phạm ◽  
Sharynne McLeod

Author(s):  
Vikas Grover ◽  
Aravind Namasivayam ◽  
Nidhi Mahendra

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to offer a contemporary viewpoint on accent services and contend that an equity-minded reframing of accent services in speech-language pathology is long overdue. Such reframing should address directly the use of nonpejorative terminology and the need for nurturing global linguistic diversity and practitioner diversity in speech-language pathology. The authors offer their perspective on affirmative and least-biased accent services, an in-depth scoping review of the literature on accent modification, and discuss using terms that communicate unconditional respect for speaker identity and an understanding of the impact of accent services on accented speakers. Conclusions: Given ongoing discussions about the urgent need to diversify the profession of speech-language pathology, critical attention is needed toward existing biases toward accented speakers and how such biases manifest in the way that accent services are provided as well as in how clinicians conceptualize their role in working with accented speakers. The authors conclude with discussing alternate terms and offer recommendations for accent services provided by speech-language pathologists.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 225-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily LORANG ◽  
Courtney E. VENKER ◽  
Audra STERLING

AbstractMaternal input influences language development in children with Down syndrome (DS) and typical development (TD). Telegraphic input, or simplified input violating English grammatical rules, is controversial in speech–language pathology, yet no research to date has investigated whether mothers of children with DS use telegraphic input. This study investigated the quality of linguistic input to children with DS compared to age-matched children with TD, and the relationship between maternal input and child language abilities. Mothers of children with DS simplified their input in multiple ways, by using a lower lexical diversity, shorter utterances, and more telegraphic input compared to mothers of children with TD. Telegraphic input was not significantly correlated with other aspects of maternal input or child language abilities. Since children with DS demonstrate specific deficits in grammatical compared to lexical abilities, future work should investigate the long-term influence of maternal telegraphic input on language development in children with DS.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 870-877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brooke Mills ◽  
Mary Hardin-Jones

Purpose The purpose of this study was to survey speech-language pathology master's programs regarding their academic and clinical coverage of cleft palate/craniofacial anomalies. Method A link to a 19-item survey was sent via e-mail to the program directors of 271 accredited graduate programs in speech-language pathology. Information was also obtained via university websites to verify survey responses. Results The response rate was 86% with 232 of 271 programs completing all or part of the survey. Twenty-four percent of respondents indicated their program offers a dedicated and required course in cleft palate/craniofacial anomalies, 22% offer an elective course, and 51% embed this content in other courses. Respondents reported that their students frequently (7%), sometimes (58%), or rarely (34%) receive clinical experience with this population. Conclusion Our findings suggest that an increasing number of academic programs are eliminating dedicated coursework in cleft palate/craniofacial anomalies and are embedding such content in other courses. A legitimate concern resulting from this consolidation of coursework is the degree to which feeding, articulation, and resonance difficulties associated with cleft palate/craniofacial anomalies are being addressed elsewhere in the curriculum.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 1629-1639
Author(s):  
Megan Y. Roberts ◽  
Bailey J. Sone ◽  
Katherine E. Zanzinger ◽  
Marie E. Bloem ◽  
Kara Kulba ◽  
...  

Purpose Despite the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's (ASHA's) endorsement of evidence-based practice (EBP) and speech-language pathologists' (SLPs') agreement on the importance of EBP, practicing clinicians report barriers to implementing EBP. The purpose of this study was to examine trends in clinical practice research published in ASHA journals over the past 11 years (2008–2018). Method A total of 2,483 articles from the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology ; Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools ; and Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research were extracted for coding. Coders were licensed SLPs who were trained to 80% reliability on classifying the type of research in each article. Clinical practice research articles were further classified as studies on assessment, studies on intervention, and studies that explore the implementation of EBP. Results Clinical practice research comprised the minority of literature published in ASHA journals in the field of speech-language pathology (25%). These articles were composed of assessment (10%), intervention (15%), and implementation (< 1%). These articles were distributed across a variety of primary content areas, with an absence of implementation science for the majority of clinical areas. Conclusions The lack of clinical practice research readily available to practicing SLPs is a barrier to EBP. The results of this study underscore the need for increased clinical practice research. Future work should investigate EBP in the context of clinician–researcher partnerships and increasing the capacity of clinicians to conduct clinical practice research. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.12550928


2010 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 33-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rochel Lazewnik ◽  
Nancy Creaghead ◽  
Sandra Combs ◽  
Lesley Raisor-Becker

Abstract In today's school settings, speech-language pathologists are likely to engage in assessment, intervention, and consultation for students from culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Therefore, speech-language pathology graduate programs must make changes that will prepare monolingual and bilingual graduate students to meet the needs of these children. Graduate students can learn information about cultural and linguistic diversity through independent courses and when these topics are incorporated into all courses. Practicum placements and experiences with children from culturally and linguistically diverse populations in the community can provide the necessary skills. When practicum experiences with diverse children are not available, faculty may consider simulated experiences, as well as experiences with typical speakers from other linguistic and cultural backgrounds.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document