Evaluating the Implementation of Robust Vocabulary Intervention
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating the Implementation of Robust Vocabulary Intervention
IRAS ID
210493
Contact name
Nicola Head
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 31 days
Research summary
Vocabulary knowledge is fundamental to verbal communication and is one aspect of language that continues to develop throughout the lifespan. It is the crucial element for development of oral language, reading comprehension, writing ability, social development and academic achievement. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds enter school knowing between 50 and 75% fewer words than children from more advantaged backgrounds and without intervention that gap does not close, leading to a cumulative disadvantage. In response to the high level of clinical need, Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) in Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHCT) have developed a vocabulary intervention programme based on the intervention approach Robust Vocabulary that is implemented to by trained teaching assistants (TAs) in local schools. The aim of this study is to evaluate the Northumberland Robust Vocabulary Programme (RVP) as it is currently implemented in schools. Up to 25 children aged 7 to 11 years who are receiving RVP as their routine SLT intervention will be invited to participate. In addition to the intervention the participants will receive two baseline assessments and two post intervention assessments administered by a final year speech and language therapy student, who will use the data for her final year dissertation. Analysis of the data collected will allow us to answer the questions: Is the Northumberland Robust Vocabulary intervention effective in increasing vocabulary knowledge in children who have poor vocabulary skills? and Do changes in the children’s vocabulary knowledge in the six weeks before the Northumberland Robust Vocabulary intervention predict their performance during and after the intervention?
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1444
Date of REC Opinion
28 Jul 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion