Reading habits of students in adult basic education and high school equivalency programs

Abstract

Abstract A sample of 217 students enrolled in two Mississippi junior colleges’ ABE or GED classes were administered a questionnaire to examine their reading habits. The sample was studied as a whole and by the demographic variables of race, gender, age (14–19, 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–67), and reading level based on their TABE scores (≤5.0, 5.1–7.9, ≥ 8.0). The most salient conclusion was that as a group, they were by no means non‐readers, though their time spent reading is less than the general population. Most reading was “educational” (including news), and least was “job related” and “recreational.” Though most have read a book (or part of a book such as a Bible) in the last six months, they are generally not book owners though most do subscribe to or buy regularly a newspaper or magazine. A plurality (44%) felt they were “good” readers. Responses to several questionnaire items varied by race, age, and TABE score.