Running Head: Reading Comprehension: Reviving the Sentence Verification Technique

Abstract

Reading success is largely determined by readingcomprehension. Thus accurate assessment of readingcomprehension is necessary to identify those who requireremediation and to plan future instructions in classrooms.Sentence verification technique (SVT) is one of themethods of assessing comprehension and can function asa diagnostic tool in reading assessment. The aim of thecurrent study was to determine whether the SVT coulddetect gender and grade differences in readingcomprehension. The study targeted 1091 elementarygrade students comprising both boys and girls who wereassessed using the SVT. The students read two textpassages selected according to their grade level andresponded to four sentence types - original, paraphrase,meaning change and distracter sentences. Independentsample t test highlighted that girls were significantlybetter than boys with regard to reading comprehensionability. One way analysis of variance to analyse gradedifferences indicated that there were significantimprovements in reading comprehension ability withhigher grades, thus highlighting the sensitivity of SVTs indetecting developmental changes in readingcomprehension. The findings of this study emphasize thediagnostic potential of the SVTs with regard toidentifying children with reading comprehensio.