Concern about the discrepancy between the reading ability of naval personnel and the level of reading material they must deal with in a naval career prompted the study summarized in this report. Focusing on literacy standards and on meeting the standards of reading difficulty and reading ability, the report discusses short-range research and…

In order to identify the reading behavior and instructional needs of functionally illiterate adults reading below fourth grade level, 50 adults were identified and diagnosed on the Durrell Analysis of Reading Difficulty test and the Slosson Intelligence Test for Children and Adults. In addition, a questionnaire was administered to Oklahoma City…

A study was designed to validate the Navy Readability Indices (NRIs) in an individualized instructional system using the criteria of comprehension and learning time. Two hundred Navy enlisted personnel enrolled in a computer-managed technical training course were tested for both comprehension and learning-time-to-criterion on four programmed…

Examines the relationship between 14 social process variables and the reading performances of 180 slow learners, ages 7-15. Finds that two of those factors (brith trauma and being held back in school) emerge as predictors of reading comprehension, word recognition, and spelling. (RL)

Surveys the reading and television viewing habits of K-12 children and the perceptions of K-8 students' parents about their children's use of time. Finds discrepancies between middle grade students' reported reading times and parents' faith in their children's reading ability; suggesting the need to educate parents and to make changes in the…

Construct validity of Survey of Reading Attitudes was investigated through a principal-factor analysis of the 88 items comprising the scale, along with measures of scholastic aptitude and reading skills (vocabulary and comprehension). Sample included 600 students selected so that 200 were obtained from each of the three intermediate grades.…

Research indicates that the informal reading does not produce reliable enough information on reading ability to use it for individual placement of students, though it can be used to judge the achievement of groups. (Ed./JD)

Although the average college freshman reads at a tenth grade level, reading instruction for college students is most often viewed as speed reading or remedial education. A new academic department of collegiate reading is proposed to specialize in reading, teaching it as an isolated subject matter. (JMD)

Means of teacher judgment and standardized test scores were not significantly different. Means of informal reading inventory placements were significantly different from teacher judgment means and standardized test score means. Highest correlations were between teacher judgment and the informal reading inventory placements. (Author)

The identification of criteria and procedures to be used for selecting applicants for teacher training is a problem that has received considerable comment and inquiry. Evaluates one selection criterion, the preservice teacher's ability to read, as an aid in the screening process. (Author/RK)

Good readers and poor readers (aged 7, 9, and 11) responded to stimuli matchable by physical similarity (e.g., A-A) or by name (e.g., A-a). The lack of a significant age or reading competence interaction with the type of match was interpreted as an inability of the poor reader to reduce required visual processing through anticipation. (Author/CP)

Children in grades 1-3 were asked to retell and explain a series of riddles. Ability to recall riddles was not predictive of ability to explain them. Three cognitive factors seemed to determine level of riddle competence. Implications concern the relationship of riddle competence to reading ability and metalinguistic facility. (CHK)

Reports on a study that examined the relationship between understanding of specific cohesive items and general reading comprehension ability, as well as differences in performance of girls and boys. Makes suggestions for the classroom based on the findings. (ARH)

Investigates the effect of reading ability on graphically and contextually constrained oral reading errors of fourth grade readers at differing degrees of reading difficulty. Indicates that, at both low and high levels of difficulty, better readers relied on contextual information and poor readers relied more on graphic cues. (MS)