Measures Of Reading Comprehension Research Articles

Selective visual attention skills differentially predict decoding and reading comprehension performance across reading ability profiles.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between selective visual attention (SVA), reading decoding, listening comprehension and reading comprehension in children with and without a reading disorder. We used longitudinal data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. We split children into four groups: Typical Readers, Dyslexics, Poor Comprehenders and Comorbid Reading Disorder. We included measures of single word reading, nonword reading, spelling, phonological processing, vocabulary, receptive language, nonverbal intelligence, selective attention and reading comprehension. We used analysis of variance, correlations and structural equation modelling to examine the relationship between SVA and reading. We fit two possible models: SVA Indirect and SVA Direct. The difference between these models was the inclusion of a direct path from SVA to reading comprehension. We examined an indirect model, where SVA predicted reading comprehension through word decoding and listening comprehension, and a direct model, which included a pathway from SVA to reading comprehension. Based on our analysis of variance and correlation results, we collapsed the Dyslexic, Poor Comprehenders and Comorbid Reading Disorder groups for the structural equation modelling. We found evidence that for Typical Readers, an indirect model was the best fit, whereas the direct model was the best model for children with a reading disorder. Selective visual attention is related to reading comprehension. This relationship differs for children with and without a reading disorder.

Working memory and fluid intelligence predict reading comprehension in school‐age children: A one‐year longitudinal study

SummaryThe present study analyzed the joint predictive role of verbal working memory (WM), verbal short‐term memory (STM), fluid intelligence, and intelligence mindset in reading comprehension, controlling for prior reading comprehension performance, in typically developing Spanish‐speaking school‐aged children. A sample of 83 children aged 9–10 years old were evaluated at fourth grade of primary school, with measures of verbal WM, verbal STM, fluid intelligence, intelligence mindset and reading comprehension; then with the measure of reading comprehension after 1 year, during fifth grade. Results showed that controlling for prior performance, verbal WM and fluid intelligence significantly predicted reading comprehension after 1 year, whereas verbal STM and intelligence mindset did not make a significant contribution. These results indicate that when jointly considered, a higher level of verbal WM and fluid intelligence in fourth grade is related to a better performance in reading comprehension in fifth grade. Possible explanations and implications of these results are discussed.

Comprensión lectora en estudiantes de escuela preparatoria abierta: efecto de una intervención basada en la motivación y las estrategias metacognitivas

El propósito de este estudio fue determinar si existe una diferencia significativa del nivel de comprensión lectora entre un pretest y un postest, en alumnos de una escuela preparatoria abierta de Nuevo León (México) después de una intervención basada en la motivación y las estrategias metacognitivas. Se utilizó un diseño cuantitativo cuasi experimental con una intervención de 14 semanas entre la aplicación de ambas mediciones. La población estuvo compuesta por 18 alumnos a quienes se les aplicaron tres instrumentos, el Test de Cloze para medir la comprensión lectora, la Escala Atribucional de Motivación de Logro General y el Inventario de Estrategias Metacognitivas Generales. Los hallazgos mostraron que existe una diferencia significativa de comprensión lectora (t(17) = 3.653, p = .002, Cohen´s d = 0.86) y estrategias metacognitivas (W = 30.00, p = .017, Correlación biserial r = 0.649) entre el pretest y el postest, aunque no fue significativo en el nivel de motivación (t(17) = -0.341, p = .737, Cohen´s d = 0.008). En conclusión, mediante la ejecución de un programa de intervención en estrategias metacognitivas y motivación hacia la lectura, se obtuvo una mejora en el nivel de comprensión lectora de los participantes.

The Validity of Cloze Test in Measuring Reading Comprehension of The Students

This study deals with validity of cloze test in measuring reading comprehension. The objectives are to find out cloze test of fixed or variable deletion a valid measure of reading comprehension, and to find out to which level of reading comprehension is cloze test most valid. This was an export facto quantitative study. In this study, the writer took 40 students at SMP Swasta Bharlind School Medan, as the sample and they were divided into two grows. There are six hypotheses in this study in order to answer the research problems. Cloze test and TOEFL test were used as the instrument for collecting the data. The findings were that cloze test using fixed-ratio method significantly correlate with reading comprehension of TOEFL and also with literal and inferential comprehension items of TOEFL in measuring reading comprehension. And the cloze test using variable-ratio method significantly correlate with reading comprehension of TOEFL but doesn’t significantly correlate with both literal and inferential comprehension items of TOEFL in measuring reading comprehension. Then, cloze test using fixed-ratio method is a valid measure of reading comprehension (0,77), while cloze test using variable-ratio method is not a valid measure reading comprehension (0,69). Mean while cloze test using variable-ratio method does not significantly correlate with inferential comprehension items of TOEFL in measuring reading comprehension.

Arithmetic Word Problems Revisited: Cognitive Processes and Academic Performance in Secondary School

Solving arithmetic word problems is a complex task that requires individuals to activate their working memory resources, as well as the correct performance of the underlying executive processes involved in order to inhibit semantic biases or superficial responses caused by the problem’s statement. This paper describes a study carried out with 135 students of Secondary Obligatory Education, each of whom solved 5 verbal arithmetic problems: 2 consistent problems, whose mathematical operation (add/subtract) and the verbal statement of the problem coincide, and 3 inconsistent problems, whose required operation is the inverse of the one suggested by the verbal term(s). Measures of reading comprehension, visual–spatial reasoning and deductive reasoning were also obtained. The results show the relationship between arithmetic problems and cognitive measures, as well as the ability of these problems to predict academic performance. Regression analyses confirmed that arithmetic word problems were the only measure with significant power of association with academic achievement in both History/Geography (β = 0.25) and Mathematics (β = 0.23).

Motivational predictors of reading comprehension in middle school: Role of self-efficacy and growth mindsets

We examined the extent to which self-efficacy and growth mindsets predict reading comprehension growth in sixth grade and the moderating role of initial word reading. Students (N = 303) reported on their self-efficacy as well as domain-general and reading-specific mindsets at the beginning of sixth grade. They completed brief bi-monthly reading comprehension measures throughout the year and a multiple-choice reading comprehension measure at the end of the school year. Results from a series of latent basis growth models indicated that self-efficacy predicted the initial level but not growth in reading comprehension. In contrast, a domain-general growth mindset did not predict the initial level but did predict growth, which in turn predicted the end-of-year reading comprehension outcome. Unexpectedly, a reading-specific growth mindset predicted none of the reading comprehension outcomes, and the initial word reading skill did not moderate the relation between growth mindsets and reading comprehension growth. Our findings highlight the critical role that self-efficacy and a domain-general growth mindset play in promoting students’ reading comprehension development.

Automaticity as an independent trait in predicting reading outcomes in middle-school.

Many middle-school students struggle with basic reading skills. One reason for this might be a lack of automaticity in word-level lexical processes. To investigate this, we used a novel backward masking paradigm, in which a written word is either covered with a mask or not. Participants (N = 444 [after exclusions]; nfemale = 264, nmale = 180) were average to struggling middle-school students from an urban area in Eastern Iowa that were all native speakers of English and were roughly equally from grades 6, 7, and 8 (average age: 13 years). Two-hundred-fifty-five students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch, a proxy for economic disadvantage. Participants completed different masked and unmasked task versions where they read a word and selected a response (e.g., a pictured referent). This was related to standardized measures of decoding, fluency, and reading comprehension. Decoding was uniquely predicted by knowledge (unmasked performance), whereas fluency was uniquely predicted by automaticity (masked performance). Automaticity was stable across two testing points. Thus, automaticity should be considered an individually reliable marker/reading trait that uniquely predicts some skills in average to struggling middle-school students. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Making Sense of Reading Comprehension Assessments: Guidance for Evaluating Student Performance

Educators use reading comprehension assessments to summarize academic achievement, make decisions in diagnostic evaluations, and identify intervention needs. A challenge, however, with using different assessments in practice is that student performance may change depending on which assessment is administered. This article guides educators in evaluating student performance across multiple assessments, specifically when making decisions for students with learning disabilities (LD) in reading. First, this article provides educators with guidance in establishing a student’s foundational skills, specifically those that may contribute to low performance on reading comprehension assessments. Next, the article presents steps for examining the texts and assessment methods commonly used in measures of reading comprehension. The article concludes with recommendations for evaluating student performance when considering a student’s foundational skills and characteristics of reading comprehension assessments.

Examining the Reading and Cognitive Profiles of Students With Significant Reading Comprehension Difficulties.

This study investigated the word reading and listening comprehension difficulties of fourth-grade students with significant reading comprehension deficits and the cognitive difficulties that underlie these weaknesses. Latent profile analysis was used to classify a sample of fourth-grade students (n = 446) who scored below the 16th percentile on a measure of reading comprehension into subgroups based on their performance in word reading (WR) and listening comprehension (LC). Three latent profiles emerged: (a) moderate deficits in both WR and LC of similar severity (91%), (b) severe deficit in WR paired with moderate LC deficit (5%), and (c) severe deficit in LC with moderate WR difficulties (4%). Analyses examining the associations between cognitive attributes and group membership indicated students with lower performance on cognitive predictors were more likely to be in a severe subgroup. Implications for educators targeting improved reading performance for upper elementary students with significant reading difficulties were discussed.

Building Meaning: Meta-analysis of Component Skills Supporting Reading Comprehension in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The ability to understand what one reads, or reading comprehension, is central to academic success. For many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), reading comprehension is a noted area of challenge. For children with typical development, it is well established that successful reading comprehension requires two broad skills: word reading and oral language. For children with ASD, word reading is often believed to be relatively intact, even in the face of poor reading comprehension, suggesting that deficits in oral language, more than in word reading, underlie reading comprehension deficits. Yet, extant research has suggested the importance of both skills. To clarify the role of these skills in the reading comprehension of children with ASD, we conducted a meta-analysis. ERIC, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Proquest Dissertation & Theses were searched for studies of reading comprehension in children with ASD, published up to May 2019. We identified 26 relevant studies about children with ASD (aged 6-18 years) that included both a measure of word reading and reading comprehension. Hunt-Schmidt Random Effects Models showed similar mean correlations between reading comprehension and the component skills of word reading (M r=0.65 [0.27-1.03]) and oral language (M r=0.61 [0.33-0.88]). These findings demonstrate that these skills are essential for reading comprehension in children with ASD, making contributions of similar size. This study advances our understanding of the mechanisms by which children with ASD understand what they read, providing a foundation on which to build programmatic research into each of these mechanisms. LAY SUMMARY: Academic progress is closely tied to children's ability to understand what they read. Yet reading comprehension is difficult for many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We used a statistical method to summarize existing research on the skills that children with ASD use to understand what they read. We found that the reading comprehension of children with ASD was related to a similar extent to both their ability to read individual words and their oral language skills. These findings suggest that both areas should be assessed in order to determine appropriate interventions to support reading comprehension for children with ASD. Autism Res 2021, 14: 840-858. © 2021 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Psychometric models of individual differences in reading comprehension: A reanalysis of Freed, Hamilton, and Long (2017)

• Advocate network models complement latent variable models of individual differences. • Reviews best practices for data cleaning and diagnostics for psychometric modeling. • Reanalysis of Freed et al. (2017) reveals problematic measurement model. • Measures of reading comprehension and language experience load on one latent factor. • Network models corroborate findings and alternative conclusions are proposed. Individual differences in reading comprehension have often been explored using latent variable modeling (LVM), to assess the relative contribution of domain-general and domain-specific cognitive abilities. However, LVM is based on the assumption that the observed covariance among indicators of a construct is due to a common cause (i.e., a latent variable; Pearl, 2000). This is a questionable assumption when the indicator variables are measures of performance on complex cognitive tasks. According to Process Overlap Theory (POT; Kovacs & Conway, 2016), multiple processes are involved in cognitive task performance and the covariance among tasks is due to the overlap of processes across tasks. Instead of a single latent common cause, there are thought to be multiple dynamic manifest causes, consistent with an emerging view in psychometrics called network theory (Barabási, 2012; Borsboom & Cramer, 2013). In the current study, we reanalyzed data from Freed et al. (2017) and compared two modeling approaches: LVM (Study 1) and psychometric network modeling (Study 2). In Study 1, two exploratory LVMs demonstrated problems with the original measurement model proposed by Freed et al. Specifically, the model failed to achieve discriminant and convergent validity with respect to reading comprehension, language experience, and reasoning. In Study 2, two network models confirmed the problems found in Study 1, and also served as an example of how network modeling techniques can be used to study individual differences. In conclusion, more research, and a more informed approach to psychometric modeling, is needed to better understand individual differences in reading comprehension.

Instructional Practices to Boost Tier 1 Content Area Instruction for Students with Disabilities: A Closer Look at PACT

For students with learning disabilities, providing text-based instruction in general education content area classes can provide students with additional reading support while simultaneously boosting their content knowledge. This article will outline a set of instructional practices delivered in social studies classes that has been shown to improve performance of eighth grade students with disabilities on measures of content knowledge, vocabulary, and content reading comprehension. Each instructional practice will be described in detail with a timeline of step-by-step procedures and accompanying language that demonstrates how the intervention may unfold in the classroom setting.

Not all sentences are created equal: Evaluating the relation between children’s understanding of basic and difficult sentences and their reading comprehension.

The sentences in texts are far more complex and diverse than those that children commonly encounter in oral language. This raises interesting questions as to whether the understanding of some sentence types might be more important than others in children’s reading comprehension. Accordingly, we examined the relation between children’s reading comprehension and their understanding of two types of sentences: one we label as basic sentences, which are common in both oral and written language, and the other we label as difficult sentences, which are more restricted to written language. One hundred and four English-speaking students (mean age = 10.8 years) completed an experimental measure of oral sentence comprehension capturing these two sentence types, a standardized measure of reading comprehension, as well as control measures for word reading, phonological awareness, vocabulary and working memory. After accounting for the variance explained by the control measures, hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed that comprehension of basic sentences, but not of difficult sentences, was significantly related to children’s reading comprehension. These results demonstrate that, at least in the 5th grade, English-speaking children use their understanding of those sentences for which they have gained a strong foundation through oral language (i.e. basic sentences) to springboard into reading for understanding. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

Effects of semantic reinforcement, semantic discrimination, and affix frequency on new word learning in skilled and less skilled readers in Grades 6 to 12

Two approaches to word learning were investigated in 1214 6th- to 12th-grade students. Definitions were provided, followed either by two sentences that were semantically correct exemplars, called semantic reinforcement learning, or by one correct sentence and a contrasting incorrect sentence (i.e., example followed by a structurally aligned non-example), called semantic discrimination learning. Type of learning was blocked, and examples and non-examples were explained. Effects of affix frequency were also assessed. Students were taught words, followed by assessments of abilities to recall the meanings of the words immediately after learning them, to choose the correct words among distractors to match given definitions after all words had been instructed, and to judge the semantic veracity of new sentences containing taught words 1–3 days later. Explanatory item response models were used to predict word learning using student and item characteristics along with their interactions. Few grade-related differences emerged. Higher-frequency affixes were generally beneficial for learning and retention across comprehension skill levels and measures. Immediate recall of word meanings was facilitated by semantic reinforcement learning. In contrast, performance after all the words had been instructed was facilitated by semantic discrimination learning, but only for more highly skilled comprehenders. The ability to learn the meanings of new words accounted for unique variance on one measure of reading comprehension, controlling for decoding, previously acquired vocabulary knowledge, and working memory. Results are discussed with reference to models of vocabulary learning and implications for vocabulary instruction for adolescents.

The assessment of Indonesian EFL students' reading comprehension ability using Reading Evaluation and Decoding System (READS)

This study focused on reading comprehension ability of the English Department students in answering READS, MCQ questions. READS is an alternative standardized assessment system that is capable of measuring reading comprehension ability. This is a descriptive study based on Barrett's Taxonomy levels, such as literal comprehension, reorganization, and inferential comprehension. This study consisted of 122 students of the English Department academic year 2015 through 2018 at one of the private universities in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. This study analysis utilized the three Barrett's taxonomy scales to identify whether the students were at meet the standard, below standard, above standard or at academic warning. Finding of the research indicated that 27.8 % students categorized into academic warning (Band 2 and 3), 46.7% students categorized into below standard (Band 4) and 25.5% students categorized into meet standard (Band 5). Consequently, READS as an alternative assessment will guide the teachers to design specific reading material based on students' needs.

The Effect of the Establishment of Conditioned Reinforcement for Reading Content on Second-Graders' Reading Achievement.

There remains a gap in the current literature as to how to reliably measure and increase students' "voluntary reading," based on research suggesting a relation between reading amount and reading achievement. We tested the effect of the establishment of conditioned reinforcement for reading via a collaborative shared reading (CSR) conditioning procedure on eight 2nd-grade students with and without learning disabilities and developmental disorders. This conditioning procedure was composed of opportunities for reciprocal reading and collaboration on comprehension and vocabulary tasks related to the reading content, such that partners (teacher-participant or participant-participant) were required to work together. We utilized a combined small-n experimental-control simultaneous-treatment design with a single-case multiple-probe design nested within each small group in order to compare within- and between-group differences for participants in the CSR procedure with a teacher or peer. All participants for whom conditioned reinforcement for reading was established (n = 7) demonstrated gains in reading achievement after a maximum of nine sessions (412 min), with grade-level increases between 0.2 and 2.5 on measures of reading comprehension and between 0.3 and 3.1 on measures of vocabulary. The students in the teacher-yoked condition (n = 3) demonstrated more significant gains in their average increases in achievement, although the peer-yoked procedure was also effective and possibly more viable in a classroom setting. These results suggest that a CSR procedure with a teacher or peer should be considered as a means of increasing the reading achievement of early elementary students via increases in the reinforcement value of reading.

Mechanisms by which morphological awareness contributes to Chinese and English reading comprehension

BackgroundResearch has established the link between morphological awareness and reading comprehension. However, the theoretical mechanisms underlying the association remain unclear. This study examined the direct and indirect effects of morphological awareness on reading comprehension in L1 Chinese and L2 English, with a sample of Chinese children who speak English as a second language (ESL). We tested theoretically driven predictions regarding the ways in which morphological awareness might impact reading comprehension.MethodsOne hundred and fifty‐six children in Grades 3 and 4 completed Chinese and English measures of morphological awareness (English: derivational awareness; Chinese: compound awareness), expressive vocabulary, word reading and reading comprehension, in addition to age, working memory and the other language's word definitions as control measures.ResultsFor both languages, analyses showed that morphological awareness had significant direct effects on both English and Chinese reading comprehension above and beyond mediators and control variables. In addition, morphological awareness had significant indirect effects on reading comprehension mediated by word reading (indirect path 1) as well as vocabulary and word reading in sequence (indirect path 2) after taking control variables into account. Vocabulary did not emerge as a mediator for either the English or the Chinese models.ConclusionsThe results underscore the importance of morphology for reading comprehension and reveal the potential mechanisms that underpin their relations in L1 Chinese and L2 English. Our findings further specify the role of morphology in the reading systems framework and highlight the value of incorporating morphology into reading instruction for Chinese ESL children.

Examining the impacts of extended vocabulary instruction in mixed-English-proficiency science classrooms

Vocabulary is a building block of understanding, especially in science classrooms where language abilities are mixed. To reduce academic inequalities, approaches to vocabulary instruction need to demonstrate benefits for students across learning contexts. We summarize the results from the first unit, “Earth Systems and Catastrophic Events,” in a longitudinal study investigating the effectiveness of the Science Vocabulary Support (SVS) program originally designed for sheltered classrooms. Four grade 7 classrooms, including 106 students (25% native English speakers; 29% former English learners [ELs]; 46% current ELs), participated in this quasi-experimental, matched-group study. Results indicated that students in SVS classrooms outperformed those experiencing regular instruction on science and targeted academic vocabulary, as well as on reading comprehension measures. We detected no significant program impact differences between current EL and proficient English-speaking students across measures. Results suggest that programs such as SVS may help teachers meet the needs of all students in mixed-English-proficiency classrooms.

Improving reading comprehension, science domain knowledge, and reading engagement through a first-grade content literacy intervention.

This study investigated the effectiveness of the Model of Reading Engagement (MORE), a content literacy intervention, on first graders’ science domain knowledge, reading engagement, and reading comprehension. The MORE intervention emphasizes the role of domain knowledge and reading engagement in supporting reading comprehension. MORE lessons included a 10-day thematic unit that provided a framework for students to connect new learning to a meaningful schema (i.e., Arctic animal survival) and to pursue mastery goals for acquiring domain knowledge. A total of 38 first-grade classrooms (N = 674 students) within 10 elementary schools were randomly assigned to (a) MORE at school (MS), (b) MORE at home, (MS-H), in which the MS condition included at-home reading, or (c) typical instruction. Since there were minimal differences in procedures between the MS and MS-H conditions, the main analyses combined the two treatment groups. Findings from hierarchical linear models revealed that the MORE intervention had a positive and significant effect on science domain knowledge, as measured by vocabulary knowledge depth (effect size [ES] = .30), listening comprehension (ES = .40), and argumentative writing (ES = .24). The MORE intervention effects on reading engagement as measured by situational interest, reading motivation, and task orientations were not statistically significant. However, the intervention had a significant, positive effect on a distal measure of reading comprehension (ES = .11), and there was no evidence of Treatment × Aptitude interaction effects. Content literacy can facilitate first graders’ acquisition of science domain knowledge and reading comprehension without contributing to Matthew effects. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

Effective ways of assessment of reading comprehension

At the first sight, testing reading comprehension seems easy and straightforward compared to productive skills. In testing oral abilities or writing there is hearable and seeable data to assess, while in receptive skills it is difficult to assess the process which occurs consciously or unconsciously in the brain system. However, taking any passage and designing simple items and addressing it to students cannot give the expected results on the measuring reading comprehension of students. Due to the unobservable process in reading assessment, designing reading tests cause major difficulties for test designers. For instance, on measuring a particular skill it is impossible to measure that particular skill since it is cannot be observed cause of conscious process in the brain and the teacher cannot know exactly student uses that particular skill which is intended to measure by the test designer. While reading there is several stages to achieve ultimate comprehension of the text including decoding the symbols into words, transforming the words into meaningful content, and understanding them. As a second language reader, this process may contain extra stages.