The domain-referenced approach to assessment results in a set of tests that are closely linked to theoretical propositions about aspects of reading comprehension. In this paper, the definition, validation, and use of domains are described, and one strategy for developing domain-referenced measures is proposed. The strategy involves identifying a…

This document describes the purposes, rationale, and specifications of a prototype group-administered criterion exercise to be used with blocks 1-8 of the Southwest Regional Laboratory (SWRL) Reading Program. A description of the sampling domains, sampling procedures, and the methods employed in the construction of test items is presented. Also…

The purpose of this project, begun in July 1970, was to learn what American adults read, and what they are able to read, as they go about their ordinary activities in the course of a normal day. A national survey of the reading activities of adults was administered to 5,096 individuals. Some conclusions drawn from the survey data are as follows:…

This dictionary was compiled to serve teachers in the fields of reading and learning disabilities. The entries are alphabetized and include terms from related disciplines; measurement, evaluation, and statistics; linguistics; library science; psychology and learning; education; and medicine, particularly dealing with vision, sensory, and motor…

The functional literacy of various groups of 17-year-old students was assessed to discover whether the reading skills which are usually taught in the schools are adequate for functioning in everyday life. Eighty-six test exercises were classified according to the various formats of reading materials they represent and according to the types of…

This study was designed: (1) to determine current concepts of reading comprehension deriving from experimental investigations and theoretical statements, and (2) to establish whether these concepts are represented consistently in current secondary professional reading textbooks, instructional materials, and published tests. Current knowledge of…

Research on the Initial Teaching Alphabet (i.t.a.) is viewed from two aspects--its limitations and how it can be improved. Thus far research has indicated that (1) transition from i.t.a. to traditional orthography is not the problem expected and (2) the children who are taught with i.t.a. read no better or worse than children taught with the…

Three major points covered by this report are (1) What are the demands for reading assessment and how have the demands increased?; (2) How adequately do present standardized reading tests meet these demands?; and (3) What possible approaches exist for developing assessment procedures which meet these demands? An extreme interest in finding out how…

Studies showing that even though certain factual questions are directly related to information in passages they are also easier to answer without reference to the passage are the basis for this study which attempted to define qualities of relationship which might be responsible for the ease of answerability. Three Tests of Acquisition of…

A proposal that the normal reader does not pay attention to individual letters but to sets of features which are characteristic of a word as a whole is presented and tested in this investigation. It was hypothesized that the reader learns (1) to extract distinctive feature information simultaneously from several parts of the configuration and (2)…

This paper discusses several evaluative methods that are available for use in a reading program that is aimed at English as a Second Language (ESL) students. The contents include: "Evaluation," which discusses the role of evaluation in reading; "Teacher Observation," which looks at how the teacher can evaluate the reading progress of students…

In this guide, the various factors necessary in a secondary level reading center are discussed in two sections. "Testing and Diagnosis" explores group screening tests, reading tests, student selection, diagnostic testing, the basic skills list, the Informal Reading Inventory, and posttesting. "Methods and Motivation" covers student motivation,…

This report presents information on the extent of illiteracy among American youths as assessed by a test specially constructed for this purpose and administered as part of the Health Examination Survey during 1966-70. The test consisted of two parts, one focusing on reading ability and a second one on writing. For the purposes of this report, if a…

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an instrument, the Special Education Research Test (SERT) to assess the critical reading ability of Utah State University Special Education graduate students. Five steps were taken in the development of the instrument. Content validity was determined using a group of regionally and nationally…

The major purpose of this study was to ascertain the reading and math progress made by Title I eligible intermediate grade students who lived and attended school in the Minneapolis Public Schools Target Area. A comparison group of students was also selected for study from a non-target school. The study population was all 1969-70 fourth graders…