Predictors of single word spelling in English speaking children: a cross sectional study

Georgia Z. Niolaki,Shani Sephton,Aris R. Terzopoulos,Jackie Masterson,Janet Vousden,Laura M. Taylor

doi:10.1111/1467-9817.12330

Abstract

BackgroundThe study aimed to explore to what extent variables associated with lexical and sublexical spelling processes predicted single word spelling ability and whether patterns of lexical and sublexical processes were different across ages.MethodsBeginning (mean age 7 years, N = 144) and advanced (mean age 9 years, N = 114) English‐speaking spellers completed tasks associated with sublexical processing (phonological ability and phonological short‐term memory), lexical processing (visual short‐term memory and visual attention span) and factors known to predict spelling (e.g., rapid automatised naming).ResultsPhonological ability, rapid automatised naming, visual short‐term memory and visual attention span were significant predictors of spelling accuracy for beginning spellers, while for more advanced spellers, only visual attention span was a significant predictor.ConclusionsThe findings suggested that for beginning spellers, both lexical and sublexical processes are important for single word spelling, but with increasing literacy experience, lexically related variables are more important.

Highlights

The study aimed to explore to what extent variables associated with lexical and sublexical spelling processes predicted single word spelling ability and whether patterns of lexical and sublexical processes were different across ages
This study aimed to examine differences between beginning and advanced spellers in the patterns of association between spelling accuracy and cognitive variables phonological ability (PA), phonological short‐term memory (PSTM), rapid automatised naming (RAN), visual short‐term memory (VSTM) and visual attention span processing (VAS)
The emphasis here has been on understanding cognitive factors in spelling, but our findings are of value to those in education

Summary

Introduction

The study aimed to explore to what extent variables associated with lexical and sublexical spelling processes predicted single word spelling ability and whether patterns of lexical and sublexical processes were different across ages.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion