This report describes the development of a Literacy Assessment Battery (LAB) for determining the relative efficiency with which adults can comprehend language by reading or listening. Development of the LAB included: the tryout with adults of two listening and reading tests designed for children; experimental studies of a decoding task involving…

Research reported in this paper was performed by HumRRO Division No. 3 (Recruit Training), Presidio of Monterey, California, under Department of Army contract with the George Washington University.

Research performed by HumRRO Division No. 3, Presidio of Monterey, California 93940, under Dept. of the Army contract with George Washington University.

This experiment was designed to determine the relative effects of speech rate and signal distortion due to the time-compression process on listening comprehension. In addition, linguistic factors--including sequencing of random words into story form, and inflection and phraseology--were qualitatively considered for their effects on listening…

A series of experiments explored the feasibility of substituting listening for reading requirements in Army training and jobs, with special reference to marginally literate, AFQT Mental Category IV men. Results of these experiments and related earlier research are summarized. Major findings indicate that high and low aptitude men may learn certain…

Two experiments were performed to determine whether using the time saved by the time compression process to repeat or extend information presented by audio tapes would increase the amount learned by listening to rapid speech. Neither repeating nor extending information improved learning over that obtained by listening to uncompressed information…

A series of studies was performed to explore the possibility of substituting listening for reading requirements, with special reference to marginally literate Category IV personnel. Time-compressed speech was evaluated as a means of producing listening rates comparable to silent reading rates. The results indicated that, for both average and low…

The comprehensibility of materials compressed and then expanded by means of an electromechanical process was tested with 280 Army inductees divided into groups of high and low mental aptitude. Three short listening selections relating to military activities were subjected to compression and compression-expansion to produce seven versions. Data…

A developmental model of literacy based on language and cognitive skills is presented in this paper. Two independent learning strands suggested as major factors in achieving literacy are learning to understand language by eye (reading) as skillfully as one can understand language by ear (auding) and learning to use the printed medium for literacy…

Two separate research reports are presented in this paper. In the first report, we have identified through literacy research three sets of job-related reading tasks for adults: (1) those involved in getting a job, (2) those concerned with learning a job, and (3) those concerned with doing a job. National surveys have indicated that the black,…