This paper describes a research project which was designed to analyze the extent of functional literacy at different grade levels in Sweden. Functional literacy is defined here as the use of the mechanics of reading for different information purposes. A test battery was administered to 2600 students in grades six through twelve. The test battery…

Previous work has led to identification of an extensive lexicon on which the Southwest Regional Laboratory (SWRL) 1970 primary-grade reading program will be based, as well as to the development of a considerable number of sound-symbol correspondence rules (see Berdiansky, Cronnell, and Koehler, 1969). The present document describes the initial…

This study was an investigation into the relationships between reading interests and reading comprehension as demonstrated by a group of fifth-graders who rated reading passages for interest and then were checked for comprehension of these same passages. A seven-point rating inventory, ranging from a "liked very, very much" rating to a "disliked…

This book includes selected papers and abstracts of papers which were presented on the program of the annual meeting of the National Reading Conference in 1973. The book is divided into sections covering reviews of selected research, research and theory, reading materials, programs and practice, and teacher education. The papers themselves deal…

The focus of this experiment was on the effects of associative strength on retention of connected discourse, in terms of both single words and strings of words. Also of interest was the short- and long-term retention of two types of information, verbatim and substance. Verbatim information covered words and word sequences identical to those in the…

Three scanning/encoding training conditions were compared with a control condition in transfer tasks involving learning and recognizing six minimally contrasting, single-syllable word-like forms. The scanning/encoding treatments failed to differ from the controls in prereading kindergarteners, which was attributed to the difficulty of the transfer…

Recent research indicates that boys read as well as girls if given high-interest material but read more poorly if given low-interest material. This study investigated possible factors contributing to the facilitating effect of interest of boys. Two experiments were performed to learn whether high-interest topics are associated with traditionally…

Articles in this report are based on the data obtained by the Adult Functional Reading Study. This study examined the reading activities of American adults and tested adults' performance on functional reading tasks. The supplement contains several articles concerned with the reading skills required to read and answer or perform the reading tasks…

Two studies are reported which represent an attempt at operationalizing the first step of a seven-step strategy for validating reading-teacher competencies. That step is to develop a procedure whereby the profession might identify the components of reading maturity at various levels. The paper discusses and explores the following three assumptions…

The author discusses a need for planning research in reading, since present research seems fragmented, the federal government has not functioned especially well in the area of planning for funding or coordination with professional organizations, and there is a need to attract scientists in a variety of disciplines to work in educational research.…

Defining prereading skills, discussing their discovery, and determining their value in reading readiness are the primary concerns of this paper. Prereading skills are defined by logical analysis of the reading task and by instructional conventions. From an analysis of initial reading tasks, prerequisite skills are identified. Those skills which…

Teachers need to be proficient in the application of word analysis skills in order to insure their ability to provide adequate instruction to others. This study reports on the development of a word analysis test which evaluates potential teachers' ability to apply nine structural analysis generalizations before and after instruction in word…

The two readers used in this study were both editions of the Ginn Basal Reading Series. Illustrations in the older Revised Editions depicted no black characters. The newer 100 Editions introduce black characters in the illustrations. The research tested children's preferences for these basal readers by sex, grade level, achievement levels within…

This study investigated the use of samples of students' writing as a means of assessing their reading achievement. Writing samples were collected from 338 students in grades seven through fourteen. Reading ability for these students ranged from below third-grade level to above fourteenth-grade level. Writing samples were categorized according to…

The major purpose of this exploratory study was to determine if electroencephalographic (EEG) auditory biofeedback training combined with Open Focus relaxation therapy would increase alpha-brain-wave production in highly anxious freshman university students who were also deficient in reading skills. The subjects for the study were 15 volunteer…