Prior Knowledge, Content-Related Attitude, Reading Comprehension Testing Mathewson’s Affective Model of Reading

Abstract

AbstractThis study explored the effect of content-related attitude on comprehension. Mathewson (1985) contended that prior knowledge research (Upson, 1983) may have been confounded or contaminated by subjects’ preexisting attitudes toward specific content information. The design of the study attempted to control for the effect of both prior knowledge and preexisting attitudes on reading comprehension because of the questions Mathewson (1985) raised about previous prior knowledge research. Students were randomly assigned from three blocks of reading ability (above average, average, and below average) to three treatment conditions as determined by their scores on the California Test of Basic Skills. One condition was designed to create positive attitudes toward the fictitious country of Titubia. Another condition was designed to present the information as objectively as possible. The final condition was designed to create negative attitudes toward Titubia. After documenting that the attitudes intended had b...