Abstract
Reading habit is considered an important construct in reading research as it serves as a significant predictor of reading achievement. However, there is still no consensus on how to best measure reading habit. In recent research, it has mostly been measured as behavioral frequency; this approach neglects the fact that repeated behavior does not cover the broad content of habitual behavior—such as automaticity and the expression of one’s identity. In this study, we aimed to adapt a 10-item scale on the basis of the Self-Report Habit Index by Verplanken and Orbell (2003) that is comprehensive but still economical for measuring reading habit. It was tested by drawing on a sample of N = 1,418 upper secondary school students. The scale showed good psychometric properties and the internal and external validity was supported. Moreover, the scale predicted reading achievement and decoding speed over and above reading frequency. The implications of an elaborated but still economical way of measuring reading habit are discussed giving new impetus on research on reading habit, challenging conventional approaches of traditional measures.
Highlights
Reading habit is considered as an important variable in reading research
We tested psychometric properties before, we investigated some aspects of validity—measurement invariance, correlations with external criteria, and incremental validity compared to behavioral frequency
We considered the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), the TuckerLewis Index (TLI), the Comparative Fit Index (CFI), and the standardized root mean square residual (SRMR)
Summary
Researchers often use the term habit synonymously to behavioral frequency. Thereby, the concept of habit often forms the theoretical foundation, even if in a particular study labels such as reading activity, behavior or frequency are used. It might be promising to adapt the elaborated habit concept by Verplanken and Orbell (2003) to reading research. We aimed to introduce a broader unidimensional conception of habit to reading research involving behavioral frequency, automaticity and the expression of one’s identity. We adapted the Self-Report Habit Index (SRHI, Verplanken and Orbell, 2003) introducing the Self-Report Habit Index for Reading (SRHI-R). We will first review the conception of habit presented by Verplanken and Orbell (2003) before, we describe its application to reading
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