Examining the Effects of Silent Independent Reading on Reading Outcomes: A Narrative Synthesis Review from 2000 to 2020

Abstract

Encouraging children to read extensively has been a widely recommended approach to developing reading. The National Reading Panel published a review study reporting inconclusive findings regarding the benefits of such an approach. In this systematic narrative synthesis review, we provided an update and an extension of the NRP’s review. We examined the effects of silent independent reading practices on reading outcomes for students in Grades K through 12, reviewing experimental and quasi-experimental studies between 2000 and 2020. We also incorporated a quality evaluation of primary studies. A systematic search of peer-reviewed articles was conducted, using identical procedures as in the National Reading Panel review. Our results from 14 primary studies comprising 5,522 participants in the treatment group and 4,966 in the control group alluded to no meaningful beneficial effects of independent reading on reading outcomes. However, due to a lack of primary studies adhering to the highest quality standards and implementation, it is impossible to determine whether such a result is universal or whether there might be conditions under which independent reading could be effective.