Reading Speed and Reading Comprehension in Adolescents

Abstract

Reading is a complex skill that is acquired through learning. Although most children with typical development master the skill of reading in due time, it is known that a smaller number of children show difficulties in reading. The aim of this thesis is to examine the reading speed and reading comprehension of primary school-aged adolescents. We also tried to determine the number of adolescents with reading difficulties, through analysis of reading speed and accuracy of comprehension of the read text. The research sample consisted of 200 pupils of sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth grade of the "Milorad Musa Burzan" elementary school in Podgorica. Assessment of reading speed and reading comprehension was performed using the Three-Dimensional Reading Test. The results showed that reading speed increases with age, so ninth grade pupils read the fastest, whereas seventh grade pupils read the slowest. In terms of comprehending what was read, the pupils of the eighth grade were the most successful, and the pupils of the seventh grade were the worst. Moreover, the results showed that there are no differences in reading speed and reading comprehension between boys and girls. It was concluded that in this sample there were a total of nine (4.5%) pupils with reading difficulties.