Reading Research Research Articles

Prioritizing equitable social outcomes with and for diverse readers: A conceptual framework for the development and use of justice-based reading assessment

Scholarship on the science of reading (SoR) has, in some instances, taken up more narrow views of reading in discussions and instantiations of reading assessment that do not center equity and justice, especially in schools. This can lead to less valid and even harmful reading assessment, especially for students from historically marginalized communities with diverse language, cultural, and neurological differences. Here, we draw on critically-minded reading research, as well as on work in equity-oriented educational assessment, to inform a justice-based reading assessment framework that can guide research, theory, policy, and practice. Using an equity-oriented and justice-based lens, the framework outlines three interwoven components: (1) relational and humanizing assessment practices; (2) justice-based products and outcomes; and, (3) a critical construct of reading. The framework compels designers, developers, and users to center the needs of rights-holders, and especially those from historically marginalized communities, throughout the assessment process. To do so, the framework outlines five principles that include orienting to equity and justice; prioritizing humanizing and critical assessment practices; grounding assessment in a complex, dynamic, and critical construct of reading for diverse populations; designing for justice-based social consequences, and engaging in critical debrief throughout. These principles guide eight phases of assessment, which we outline in detail. Finally, we discuss conceptual contributions as well as practical implications.

Text readability: its impact on reading comprehension and reading time

Recently, the readability of texts has become the focus of reading research because it is believed to have implications for reading comprehension, which is of utmost importance in the field of English as a foreign language (EFL), particularly in the teaching, learning and assessment of reading comprehension. Unfortunately, the influence of text readability on reading comprehension (and reading time) has not been well studied in the EFL context. Most text readability studies are conducted in medical contexts, but these studies are often limited in predicting readability scores for sample texts. To address this gap, the current study aimed to evaluate the influence of text readability levels (based on the Flesch-Kincaid grade level (FKGL)) on students’ reading comprehension and reading time. Data were collected through reading test and analyzed using SPSS version 22. The Friedman test revealed that the distribution of students' reading comprehension score (X2=197.532, p=0.000) and reading time (X2=215.323, p=0.000) are different in each text, suggesting that the readability of texts has a significant influence on both. This study contributed to the practices of reading instruction and assessment. Limitations and suggestions for further research are briefly discussed.

Weathering words: a virtual reality study of environmental influence on reading dynamics.

Reading is a fundamental cognitive activity that is influenced by both textual and external environmental factors, although the latter has been less thoroughly explored. This study aims to examine the impact of environmental visual conditions on reading performance using Virtual Reality (VR) technology. We conducted two experiments to assess the effects of visual contrast and simulated weather conditions on reading dynamics. In Experiment 1, we measured single-word recognition speed using a lexical decision task under different visual contrasts and weather conditions. In Experiment 2, we assessed reading dynamics during a sentence reading task, analyzing how visual contrast and simulated sunny versus rainy weather conditions affected reading behavior, particularly focusing on reading speed and eye fixations. In Experiment 1, high visual contrast, particularly under sunny conditions, significantly enhanced single-word recognition speed, indicating a notable influence of environmental visual conditions. In Experiment 2, visual contrast had minimal effect on sentence reading; however, sunny weather facilitated faster reading times, while rainy scenarios increased the number of eye fixations. These findings suggest that environmental factors, such as weather conditions, can significantly affect reading behavior. The study contributes to the understanding of key environmental influences on reading in everyday life contexts and has implications for the ergonomic design of reading materials, especially for outdoor settings and VR environments. Additionally, the integration of controlled stimuli within VR increases the ecological validity of reading research, underscoring the potential of VR as a powerful tool for cognitive research.

The Global and Local Patterns of Reading-Related Cognitive and Ecological Variables in Chinese First-Grade Children: A Cross-Sectional Network Analysis.

In the current study, we tested a network model of reading difficulty by using state-of-the-art psychological network analysis. Four hundred and fifty-three Chinese first-grade children (about 38% female, mean age = 7.00, SD = 0.41) were divided into good (n = 154), competent (n = 147), and struggling readers (n = 152) based on their scores of Chinese character reading. The Extended Bayesian Information Criterion graphical lasso (EBICglasso) method was applied to estimate cross-sectional networks for the three groups. Each network included four cognitive nodes (homophone awareness, morphological structure awareness, phonological awareness, and vocabulary) and two ecological nodes (family socioeconomic status and the number of books at home). Chronological age and nonverbal intelligence were also included in the estimated networks. The global (i.e., global structure and global connectivity) and local patterns (i.e., the most important edges and nodes) in each network were reported. The network comparison results showed that global connectivity was significantly lower among struggling readers than for good readers, implying that a holistic impairment of bidirectional connections among multiple variables relates to the difficulty in learning to read. The theoretical and empirical implications and the significance of applying the network approach to reading research are discussed.

Toward a dynamic idiolect: Multilingual perspectives on the “science of reading”

In this essay, we address the multilingual challenge that is faced by both the “science of reading” and the field of educational psychology. We describe some significant contributions made by educational psychology to the field’s understanding of the “science of reading” as well as multilingual reading, more specifically. While these contributions have been productive, they do not reflect contemporary multilingual theories that pertain to reading and literacy. To move reading research toward a more multilingual orientation, we propose that language be considered as a verb, to language, and that the language user be considered as a languager, who brings their own unique set of linguistic resources to bear on the reading process. Each languager, we argue, possesses their own dynamic idiolect, comprising three components: linguistic awareness, sensemaking, and linguistic lamination. After providing examples of the dynamic idiolect in instructional contexts, we illustrate how its three components can be captured in empirical contexts to operationalize the dynamic idiolect and move educational psychology toward a more multilingual “science of reading.”

The Semantic Reader Project

Scholarly publications are key to the transfer of knowledge from scholars to others. However, research papers are information-dense, and as the volume of the scientific literature grows, the greater the need for new technology to support scholars. In contrast to the process of finding papers, which has been transformed by Internet technology, the experience of reading research papers has changed little in decades. For instance, the PDF format for sharing papers remains widely used due to its portability but has significant downsides, inter alia, static content and poor accessibility for low-vision readers. This paper explores the question “Can recent advances in AI and HCI power intelligent, interactive, and accessible reading interfaces—even for legacy PDFs?” We describe the Semantic Reader Project, a collaborative effort across multiple institutions to explore automatic creation of dynamic reading interfaces for research papers. Through this project, we’ve developed a collection of novel reading interfaces and evaluated them with study participants and real-world users to show improved reading experiences for scholars. We’ve also released a production research paper reading interface that will continuously incorporate novel features from our research as they mature. We structure this paper around five key opportunities for AI assistance in scholarly reading —discovery, efficiency, comprehension, synthesis, and accessibility—and present an overview of our progress and discuss remaining open challenges.

Readers encode absolute letter positions

Reading research has long been concerned with the question of whether the reading brain accesses lexical representations via absolute or relative letter position information. In recent years, important results have been obtained with the flanker lexical decision task. Studies have shown faster decisions about target words (e.g., ‘rock’) when flanked by related letters (‘ro rock ck’) than unrelated letters (‘st rock ep')—and crucially, equal facilitation upon switching flanker positions (‘ck rock ro'), pointing to relative rather than absolute letter position coding. Yet, a later study employing longer targets and flankers yielded detrimental effects of switching flanker positions. In order to get a better grasp on the equivocal evidence thus far, here we carried out an extensive test of flanker relatedness and position effects, using various target and flanker lengths, all within a single experiment. We observed a clear reduction of flanker relatedness effects upon switching flanker positions, and this held true across target and flanker lengths. The present results unambiguously suggest that lexical access is driven by absolute letter position information, and furthermore, are accurately predicted by the recent PONG model (Snell, 2024b).

Students’ reading self-concepts at an institution of higher learning in South Africa

Background: South Africa’s reading problems are evident in tertiary education, particularly among students studying in a foreign language. Therefore, many reading researchers in South Africa have argued that poor reading skills among tertiary students are a direct result of poor reading skills at school. Some research has found that psychological factors such as test anxiety, self-concept, and attitude have a negative and significant impact on student academic performance.Objectives: Therefore, the current study focuses on self-concept as it specifically explores university students’ self-perceptions as readers.Method: The study followed a qualitative research approach, and a case study design was deemed relevant for the study. A targeted sample of 65 respondents was selected to answer the open-ended questionnaire. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the collected data.Results: The findings showed that university students defined themselves as readers in different ways and their reading self-concepts were based on their reading behaviour. The students specifically described themselves as readers who enjoy reading, analytic readers, or reluctant readers with poor and slow reading abilities displaying inconsistent reading habits; they admitted that they only read for academic purposes including tests and exams.Conclusion: Students’ reading self-concept has implications for reading instruction, student support, choice of reading material, reading motivation, and syllabus design.Contribution: The findings of the study provide data that could create English lecturers’ awareness of their students’ reading self-concepts so that they could change their students’ reading culture.

A decade of English academic reading research: A bibliometric analysis

This paper addresses a gap in the literature by conducting a bibliometric analysis of research on "English academic reading." The study aims to classify English academic reading articles, identify research trends, and explore popular and emerging topics in the field. To achieve these objectives, relevant articles were located using Publish or Perish software and assessed for quality using the Scimago Journal Rank (SJR). A total of 36 articles from 33 reputable journals, published between 2013 and 2023, were analyzed. Mendeley software managed references, while VOSviewer software classified the articles into six distinct research clusters. The most frequent keywords identified were ‘academic achievement,’ ‘academic reading,’ ‘students,’ ‘development,’ ‘English,’ and ‘case study.’ The analysis also revealed underexplored areas for future research, such as ‘academic performance,’ ‘English reading proficiency,’ and ‘extensive reading,’ among others. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape on English academic reading. The findings highlight areas that have been extensively studied and suggest significant opportunities for further exploration. Researchers and educators can use these insights to develop more effective strategies to enhance English academic reading proficiency among students.

Storytelling in videos: A novel way to teach qualitative research

This study investigates the impact of instructional materials and multimedia integration on student engagement, comprehension and learning preferences within Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) qualitative research course. Three key measures were examined: the effectiveness of instructional materials, the impact of video content on the learning experience, and the relationship between learning preferences and exposure to storytelling videos. Data was collected through surveys administered to students enrolled in a qualitative research course. Results from Measure 1 indicate a strong positive correlation between students’ perception of the effectiveness of storytelling cases and their ability to recall qualitative research approaches after viewing accompanying videos. A significant proportion of students reported increased engagement with course content, attributing it to the utilisation of storytelling cases. Measure 2 findings reveal that students who found watching videos meaningful for discussion boards and perceive videos as helpful in improving focus are more likely to rate viewing videos instead of reading research articles as high in value. In addition, Measure 3 demonstrates that students who have learned via storytelling videos more frequently in academic classes prior to this course are more likely to prefer visual or auditory learning and thus perceive offering a range of learning activities in online courses as important. These findings underscore the importance of innovative instructional approaches such as storytelling and multimedia integration in enhancing student learning experiences and outcomes in online programmes.

Understanding feelings, thoughts, and actions: Social work students and individual research consultations

The purpose of this study was to better understand how individual research consultations (IRCs) with a librarian impact undergraduate social work students' feelings, thoughts, and actions during their information search process. Screencast videography was the primary method of data collection in this qualitative case study. Participants (n = 7) were sampled from a social work research seminar course at a regional university in the upper Midwest. Both prior to and after an IRC, study participants joined a recorded Zoom meeting with the researcher, share their screen, and talk aloud during their search process. Follow up interviews with participants were also conducted. Results showed participants' feelings moved from confused prior to the IRC to confident after the IRC. Participants had a more refined topic and were more effective in applying inclusion and exclusion criteria when selecting articles for their literature review assignment after the IRC. The actions students took after the IRC were more beneficial to their information search process, especially when it came to reading and understanding scholarly research. These results underscore the value IRCs can provide to undergraduate social work students. The findings of this study demonstrate and explain changes in student information seeking as a result of an IRC.

Korean reading research trends and future challenges: Focusing on studies between 2013 to 2023

Korean reading research trends and future challenges: Focusing on studies between 2013 to 2023

WITHDRAWN: How to read a research paper

This article provides comprehensive guidance on accessing and using the research literature. It outlines the reasons for reading research papers, from being informed about professional developments to understanding publication trends and exploring unanswered research questions. The article details the initial steps of accessing online databases like PubMed and employing effective search strategies. It emphasizes the importance of evaluating articles to determine their relevance and comprehensibility. Guidance is provided on reading papers critically, focussing on the authorship, background, methodology, results, and discussion sections. Finally, it discusses methods for recording and organizing relevant papers using reference management software, ensuring efficient future retrieval.

Palace traditions and culture form; the spatial structure of the Baluwarti settlement “Manunggaling Kawula Ian Gusti”

According to Paku Buwana I, Radya Laksana is a form and core image of the culture of the Surakarta Palace. The literal meaning is physical and mental behavior to uphold the country. Its elements consist of the king, Sentana's son, courtiers, people, the physical building, government, and region. The Surakarta palace's culture is Islamic, but when it pertains to rituals and palace traditions, it has remained inextricably associated with Hindu culture. This is the belief in reciprocal relationships and parallels between the macrocosm and microcosm, where the king, as the center of the microcosm, gave rise to numerous traditional ceremonies that are practiced in the palace, including Grebeg, Kirab-Jamasan Pusaka, Labuan, Malem Selikuran, Mahesalawung, Tingalan Jumenengan Dalem, Tingalan Dalem, and Pasowanan Ngabekten. The Surakarta Palace region includes the Baluwarti village. Most of the individuals are courtiers for the king, who have the expertise required by the king and palace. The phases of the past and present are examined in this study method. Investigations into past lives are conducted through historical reading research. The data is collected through interviews with the public and observation. The results of the research show that the spatial structure of settlement forms a system of manunggaling Kawula lan Gusti.

Peran Ekstrakulikuler dalam Meningkatkan Kreatifitas Siswa MAN 1 Pangandaran

The creativity in each student needs to be developed and honed to be more trined. As a teacher, you must know the talents of the students. This makes it easier for teachers to place them according to their expertise. The need for support from schools in the form of facilities that support these extracurricular activies. There are still many schools that do not support extracurricular activies either form the coaches, funds, and facilities. This type of research is increasing persistence as a provision for researchers to be able to increase perseverance by reading various reference books and research results.

Transforming Buwuhan Tradition In Accounting Perspective: Exploring Value And Economic Impact

Research Aims: The research aims to transform the Buwuhan tradition through an accounting perspective by exploring its value and economic impact. It will analyze the financial implications, assess value creation, and investigate the application of modern accounting practices to enhance economic activities related to Buwuhan. The study will also propose strategies for sustaining and expanding the tradition, aiming to balance cultural preservation with economic growth. Design/methodology/approach: This research uses literature research methods (library research). Research This literature research which states that literature research is known for activities related to collecting library data, reading, and recording and processing research materials. Literature research limits its activities to only materials derived from libraries without the need for field research. Research Findings: it is explained that the meaning in wages and hapolas is almsgiving, love, and sincere and sincere intentions. The absence of financial recording and reporting shows that this practice has a different concept of accountability from generally accepted accounting, namely accountability based on love.Theoretical Contribution/Originality: his research applies modern accounting to the Buwuhan tradition, bridging cultural heritage and economic analysis. It offers a framework for quantifying and enhancing the financial and social value of cultural practices, providing new insights for accounting and aiding community leaders in balancing cultural preservation with economic development

Tarikh Falsafah al-Lughah al-Insaniyah

There are many differences in the discussion of the origin of language. The results of studies on this issue have not been conclusive due to the difficulty researchers face in reaching a consensus. So, what is the history of the origin of language in this world? There are many theories about the origin of language to answer this problem. The aim of this research is to uncover the history of the emergence of language. The approach of this research is qualitative. The researcher used the library method for her research. She collected data through documentation, which involved reading books, articles, and research related to this topic. The data analysis method used in this research is content analysis. The results of this research are that the researcher found various theories about the origin of language, including the divine theory, the convention theory, the Bow-wow theory (theory of natural sound imitation), the Pooh-pooh theory (theory of emotional exclamations), the Yo-he-ho theory (theory of vocal responses to muscular movements), and the like. None of these theories are entirely right or wrong, but language encompasses all of them.

Teaching Students to Read: A Call to Action for Social Justice in School Psychology

Although the accurate diagnosis and effective instruction for reading disorders through multi-tiered systems of support is one of the most foundational components of school psychology training and practice, there are significant opportunities for innovation, renewed excitement, and social justice. In this article, we identify reading assessments, interventions, and systems-level policies shown to be effective through rigorous, empirical research. These effective practices are not well known by school psychologists or commonly implemented in schools. We propose four areas to better align school psychology training and practice with the most cutting-edge reading research to improve student outcomes in the future: (a) building knowledge of reading development, (b) increasing the commitment to school-based careers, (c) implementing more instructionally-useful reading screening and special education assessment practices (including using the hybrid model of identification), and (d) promoting evidence-based reading instruction and intervention. Throughout each of these four areas, we highlight the need for multi-disciplinary collaboration.

Building a Strong English Civil Engineering Vocabulary

Vocabulary acquisition means the process of learning and acquiring new words and their meanings. Building a strong vocabulary is essential for effective communication, reading comprehension, and overall language proficiency. Civil engineering involves designing, constructing, and maintaining infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, and buildings. To be successful in this field, it is important to have a good understanding of technical terms and concepts in English, which is the universal language of communication. Building a robust civil engineering English vocabulary is crucial for effectively communicating with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders, as well as understanding complex engineering principles and procedures. One way to improve the civil engineering vocabulary is to familiarize with key technical terms and definitions. Another important aspect of building a strong civil engineering vocabulary is to study the different types of materials, tools, and techniques used in the industry. In addition to technical terminology and materials, it is also important to learn common abbreviations and acronyms, suffixes and prefixes used in civil engineering. Word formation is also a key aspect in enhancing civil engineering vocabulary. One effective way to expand the civil engineering vocabulary is to read industry publications, technical manuals, and research papers. Lastly, practice and repetition are key to building a strong civil engineering vocabulary. The present article deals with all these essential points in building a strong civil engineering English vocabulary.

Needs Analysis and Design of a Master’s Level Academic Reading Course in English

This article reports an English language needs analysis of Colombian Social Science master’s students. Information from faculty interviews, course syllabi, and student surveys shows that students need English to access and update their disciplinary knowledge through research articles and book chapters to successfully participate in class activities in Spanish, for which low English proficiency and lack of graduate reading skills can be an obstacle. These findings inspired the creation of Reading Research Articles in the Social Sciences course and confirmed the importance of source variety, triangulation, and addressing needs when identified. Methodological and practical contributions are discussed, emphasizing syllabi as key information sources not considered in other needs analyses.