A principal factor analysis was performed on a matrix of correlations amoung measures of field independence, intelligence, and achievement in reading and mathematics. Factors of general intelligence and verbal ability were identified. Field independence shared a substantial amount of variance with general intellectual ability. (Author/SJL)

A prereading strategy designed to predict events and provide practice in answering questions requiring inferences between text and prior knowledge were used with elementary school students. The performance of experimental groups surpassed that of the control groups on some measures while results were mixed on other measures. (MKM)

Discusses a study to ascertain the historical viewpoints of junior high school American history textbooks written below the junior high school level. Findings indicated that texts are not all alike. Additional research is needed to determine if the findings of this study can be generalized to other social studies materials and/or other subject…

The author summarizes a research review conducted at William Paterson College. Information is presented on the amount of time spent watching television, types of programs preferred by different age groups, and the impact of television on reading habits and achievement. No consistent relationship between TV viewing and achievement was found. (SJL)

This paper presents evidence that the Snyder/Pope Visual Memory Technique using the Bender-Gestalt Test is a useful predictor of reading ability for first-grade children. Short-term visual recall appears highly related to the Grade 1 reading task and should be assessed when children begin learning to read. (Author/SJL)

After a brief historical (Orton) and theoretical (Gibson) look at the phenomenon of reversals, two groups of studies are reviewed and evaluated. The first group involves neurological and psychological factors associated with reversals such as age and training. The second relates reversals to reading disabilities and to future reading achievement.…

Reports on a study in which the reading, language arts, and spelling achievement test scores of pupils who had completed six years of nongraded elementary reading instruction without marks were compared with those of pupils who had received traditional, graded instruction with marks. (HOD)

Traces the history of the reading assessments conducted by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), discusses the objectives and importance of the 1979-80 reading assessment, and notes the need for professional organizations such as the International Reading Association to develop proposals dealing with research questions raised by…

The California Entry Level Test (ELT) means are used with demographic variables to predict differences among California schools and districts on subsequent reading achievement tests. Factor analyses resulted in distinct factors for each of the subtests. The validity of the ELT was very high for its intended purpose. (Author/BW)

The relationship between primary process integration (PPI) and achievement was investigated. Fifty-one second graders received the Rorschach, which was scored by Holt's Primary Process Scoring System. Achievement criteria were academic grade average and reading test scores. The hypothesis that PPI is positively related to achievement was…

A study found that a particular study skill system (mapping or paraphrasing) did not benefit one kind of learner (field dependent or field independent) more than another. (MKM)

Results of a study exploring the relationship of locus of control, self-esteem, and field independence with reading and math achievement of Mexican American and Anglo American elementary school children did not support presumed cultural differences of personality variables, but did suggest a differing relationship between personality variables and…

Notes the effect of varying lengths of time spent by seventh grade Mexican American students in an elementary level bilingual education program on the students' grade point average, reading achievement, and self-concept. (Author/SB)

Kindergarten students were taught words with or without pictures to test the focal attention hypothesis that pictures interfere with sight-word learning. In this study, pictures presented with words facilitated rather than hindered learning. (MKM)

Argues that the extent of a child's sense of story influences the child's prediction of syntax and comprehension. Suggests ways for teachers to encourage children to develop their sense of story. (RL)