Spellability: A Linearly Ordered Content Domain

The concept of a linearly ordered content domain (LOCD) is discussed and applied to a spelling example. A logistic analysis of the occurrence of first introduction of spelling words into the curriculum is presented, and the results, along with word length, number of neutralized vowels, and an index of word familiarity, are used to predict word location on the spelling LOCD. This allows the examination of the structure of the LOCD leading to greater understanding of the reasons why spelling words are found to have particular difficulties, and allowing adaptation of the spelling LOCD to local conditions.