Comparing the Relationships Among Two Different Versions of Alphanumeric Rapid Automatized Naming and Word Level Reading Skills

Abstract

This study investigated whether two different versions of the serial rapid automatized naming (RAN) task, using similar alphanumeric stimuli, would differentially predict performance on word level reading skills (i.e., word recognition, nonword reading, and orthographic processing). To accomplish this, a subset of the Colorado Learning Disabilities Research Center twin sample (N = 307) was administered two different versions of serial RAN (traditional and alternative), and the relationship among these measures and word level reading skills was examined using an extension of multiple regression analysis known as dominance analysis (Budescu, 1993). The traditional RAN task (RAN-T) involved rapidly naming a visual array of 50 items, consisting of 5 symbols in a given category that are presented 10 times in random order in 5 rows (Denckla & Rudel, 1976). In the alternative RAN task (RAN-A), participants were presented with a similar set of 6 symbols in 5-item rows but asked to name as many items as possible in 15 sec. Results of dominance analysis indicate that the RAN-A measure explained significantly more unique variance in word recognition and orthographic-processing skills than the RAN-T task. In the case of word recognition skill, RAN-A was found to dominate RAN-T. Several explanations for this pattern of results across the two versions of RAN are explored.