Table of Contents

ARTICLES Perspectives From Campus Leaders on the Current State of Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Jillian Kinzie Editor's Notes Trudy W. Banta Peer Review of Program Assessment Efforts: One Strategy, Multiple Gains Margaret Fong Bloom Assessing Doctoral Applicants' Readiness for Doctoral‐Level Work Michelle A. Maher, Benita J. Barnes COLUMN From the States Peter T. Ewell FEATURE Recommended Reading Susan Kahn     

How many colours are necessary to increase the reading speed of children with visual stress? A comparison of two systems

We measured the increase in reading speed afforded by two currently available systems of coloured overlays: the Intuitive Overlays, which provide a choice of 30 colours, and the Eye Level Reading Rulers, which provide a choice of 5. Forty‐eight pupils from a local authority primary school who reported experiencing symptoms of visual stress were individually tested with both systems in a random order, balanced across pupils. There were no differences between the systems as regards the children's preference or the reduction in symptoms of visual stress. However, there was a significant increase in reading speed with the Intuitive Overlays and no increase, on average, with the Reading Rulers. Pupils showing an increase in reading speed of more than 5% with either overlay were tested again, on this occasion with Intuitive Overlays of the conventional size and those cut to the (much smaller) size of the Reading Rulers. There was no difference in reading speed between the large and small overlays. Participants whose reading speed increased with the Reading Rulers by as much as with the Intuitive Overlays tended to be those who chose a similar colour for both overlays. The general pattern of results suggests that the Reading Rulers failed to increase reading speed because they do not offer sufficient colours and hence the benefits of the Reading Rulers in increasing reading speed are likely to be less than obtained with the Intuitive Overlays.     

A Closer Look at Low-Performing Adult Readers in the Scandinavian Countries

ABSTRACT

This article focuses on low-performing adult readers in the Scandinavian countries, seeking to identify and describe some of the literacy-related problems that they face. Following a presentation of the Reading Components Assessment (RCA) used in PIAAC (Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies), we provide profiles for those informants who completed the RCA. Then we compare the RCA results of adults having well-functioning literacy skills with the results of adults identified as low-performing readers. The presentation includes both results for items correct and information about the time used to complete the items. The findings indicate that the gap in performance on the Component task sets is wider between adults scoring Below level 1 in literacy and those scoring on Level 1 than the corresponding gap between Level 1 and Level 2. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.     

Book reviews

Books reviewed in this article: MALATESHA, R.N. and HARTLAGE, L.C. (eds) (1982) Neuropsychology and Cognition (2 volumes). GOLDBERG, H.K., SHIFFMAN, G.B. and BENDER, M. (1983) Dyslexia: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Reading Disabilities. YOUNG, P. and TYRE, C. (1983) Dyslexia or Illiteracy? Realising the Right to Read JORM, A.F. (1983) The Psychology of Reading and Spelling Disabilities. ELLIS, A.W. (1984) Reading, Writing and Dyslexia: A Cognitive Analysis. CULLER, JONATHAN (1983) On Deconstruction: theory and criticism after structuralism. DREYFUS, H.L. and RABINOW, P. (1982) Michel Foucault: beyond structuralism and hermeneutics. EAGLETON, T. (1983) Literary Theory: an introduction. JEFFERSON, A. and ROBEY, D. (eds) (1982) Modern Literary Theory: a comparative introduction. KERMODE, F. (1983) Essays on Fiction 1971-82. LEITCH, V.B. (1983) Deconstructive Criticism: an advanced introduction. MCHOUL, A.W. (1982) Telling How Texts Talk: essays in reading and ethnomethodology. SHOLES, R. (1982) Semiotics and Interpretation. TODOROV, T. (ed.) (1982) French Literary Theory Today; a reader. TODOROV, T. (1983) Symbolism and Interpretation. TODOROV, T. (1982) Theories of the Symbol. SOLTOW, L. and STEVENS, E. (eds) (1981) The Rise of Literacy and the Common School in the United States: a socioeconomic analysis to 1870. DOWNING, J., AYERS, D. and SCHAEFER, B. (1983) Linguistic Awareness in Reading Readiness (LARR) Test. BRADLEY, LYNEITE (1980) Assessing Reading Difficulties. VINCENT, D., GREEN, L., FRANCIS, JEAN and POWNEY, JANET (1983) A Review of Reading Tests. PUGH, A.K. and ULIJN, J.M. (eds) (1984) Reading for Professional Purposes: studies and practices in native and foreign languages. HUDELSON, s. (ed.) (1981) Learning to Read in Different Languages. JUNG, U.O.H. (ed.) (1982) Reading: a symposium. GEOFFRION, L.D. and GEOFFRION, O.P. (1983) Computers and Reading Instruction. SHUARD, H. and ROTHERY, A. (eds) (1984) Children Reading Mathematics. BOUMA, H. and BOUWHUIS, D.G. (eds) (1984) Attention and Performance Vol. X: Control of Language Processes. MANDL, H., STEIN, N.L. and TRABASSO, T. (1984) Learning and Comprehension of Text.     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book review in this Article: Katharine Perera: Children's Writing and Reading: Analysing Classroom Language, published by Basil Blackwell in association with Andre Deutsch, Oxford and London, 1984. John Foster: Reasons For Reading Book One John Foster: Reasons For Reading Book Two Keith Gardner: Study Reading Book One Keith Gardner. Study Reading Book Two     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Van Dijk , Teun A. (1977) Text and Context: Explorations in the Semantics and Pragmatics of Discourse. Pugh , A.K. (1978). Silent Reading: an Introduction to its Study and Teaching. Jansen , Mogens , Jacobsen , Bo ; and Jensen , Poul Erik (1978) The Teaching of Reading without Really any Method: An Analysis of Reading Instruction in Denmark. R. Bamberger , L. Binder and E. Vanacek (1977) Zehnjährige als Buchleser. Margaret Mann (1977) The Reading Habits of Adults-a select annotated bibliography. Julia Vida -Kulcsar (1978, ed.) Market Research in the Hungarian Booktrade     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Carver, R.P. (1981) Reading Comprehension and Reading Theory. Crowder, R.G. (1982) The Psychology of Reading: an Introduction. Downing, J. & Leong, C.K. (1981) Psychology of Reading. Henderson, L. (1982) Orthography and Word Recognition in Reading. Kolers, P.A., Wrolstad, M. & Bouma, H. (Ed.) (1979) Processing of Visible Language 1. Kolers, P.A., Wrolstad, M. & Bouma, H. (Ed.) (1980) Processing of visible Language 2. Lesgold, A.M. & Perfetti, C.A. (Ed.) (1981) Interactive Processes in Reading. Mitchell, D.C. (1982) The Process of Reading: a Cognitive Analysis of Fluent Reading and Learning to Read. Ewing, J. and Johnstone, M. (1981) Attitudes to Reading: Measurement and Classification within a Curricular Structure. Heather, P. (1981) Young People's Reading: a study of the leisure reading of 13-15 year olds. Clay, Marie M. (1982) Observing Young Readers: Selected Papers. Ferreiro, Emilia and Teberosky, Ana (1982/3) Literacy Before Schooling. Spender, L. (1983) Intruders on the Rights of Men: Women's Unpublished Heritage. Sheridan, E. Marcia (Ed.) (1982) Sex Stereotypes and Reading: Research and Strategies. Posner, Roland (1982) Rational Discourse and Poetic Communication: Methods of Linguistic, Literary, and Philosophical Analysis. Prince, Gerald (1982) Narratology: The Form and Functioning of Narrative. Sharratt, Bernard (1981) Reading Relations: Structures of Literary Production. A Dialectical Text/Book. Tompkins, Jane P. (Ed.) (1981) Reader-Response Criticism: From Formalism to Post-Structuralism. Widdowson, Peter (Ed.) (1982) Re-Reading English. Cressy, D. (1980) Literacy and the Social Order: Reading and Writing in Tudor and Stuart England. Eisenstein, E.L. (1982) The Printing Press as an Agent of Change: Communications and Cultural Transformations in Early-modern Europe. Furet, F. and Ozouf, J. (1982) Reading and Writing: Literacy in France from Calvin to Jules Ferry. Mann, P.H. (1982) From Author to Reader: a Social Study of Books. Morris, R.C. (1981) Reading, Riting, and Reconstruction: the Education of Freedmen in the South, 1861-1870. Gollasch, F.V. (Ed.) (1982) Language and Literacy: the Selected Writings of Kenneth S. Goodman. Volume I: Process, Theory, Research. Volume 2: Reading, Language and the Classroom Teacher. Miles, T.R. (1983) Dyslexia: The Pattern of Difficulties. Singer, M.H. (Ed.) (1982) Competent Reader, Disabled Reader: Research and Application. Malatesha, R.N. and Aaron, P.G. (Ed.) (1982) Reading Disorders: Varieties and Treatments.     

Shorter Notices

Hoffman , M. (1977). Reading, Writing and Relevance. Jackson , S. (1977). Oxford Junior Workbook, 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A. Riddell , G. and Gulland , D. (1975). Teaching: Active or Passive. Lewis , L. (1977). Attack-a-track. Spooncer , F. A. (1976). The Development of Reading, The Evaluation of Reading. Williams , A. (1971). Reading and the Consumer. Zimet , S. G. (1977). Print and Prejudice.     

Book reviews

Book reviewed in this article: READ, GAVIN (1994) Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia): A handbook for study and practice. EDWARDS, JANICE (1994) The Scars of Dyslexia. HATCHER, P. J. (1994) Sound Linkage. MILES, T.R. (1993) Dyslexia: The Pattern of Difficulties. COOKE, A. (1993) Tackling Dyslexia: The Bangor Way. WILLOWS, D., KRUK, R.S. and CORCOS, E. (Eds.) (1993) Visual Processes in Reading and Reading Disabilities. GOODWYN, A. (ed.) (1995) English and Ability. HULME, CHARLES, and SNOWLING, MARGARET (eds) (1994) Reading Development and Dyslexia. ELLEY, WARWICK B. (ed.) (1994) The IEA Study of Reading Literacy: CHAUDRON, MARTINE and DE SINGLY, FRANCOIS (eds) (1993) Zdentitk, Lecture, Ecriture.     

Reviews

Marzollo , J. and Lloyd , J. (1977). Learning through Play. Meek , M., Warlow , A. and Barton , G. (1977). The Cool Web: the Pattern of Children's Reading. Hoffman , M. (1977). Reading, Writing and Relevance. Jackson , S. (1977). Oxford Junior Workbook, 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A. Riddell , G. and Gulland , D. (1975). Teaching: Active or Passive. Lewis , L. (1977). Attack-a-track. Spooncer , F. A. (1976). The Development of Reading, The Evaluation of Reading. Williams , A. (1971). Reading and the Consumer. Zimet , S. G. (1977). Print and Prejudice.     

Book Reviews

Books reviewed in this article: Pirozzolo, F.J. (1979) The Neuropsychology of Developmental Reading Disorders. Tansley, P. and Panckhurst, J. (1981) Children with Specific Learning Difficulties: a Critical Review of Research. Ingham, Jennie (1981) Books and Reading Development. Pavlidis, G.Th. and Miles, T.R. (Ed.) (1981) Dyslexia Research and its Applications to Education. Tzeng, O.J.L. and Singer, H. (Ed.) (1981) Perception of Print: Reading Research in Experimental Psychology. Pirozzolo, F. J. and Wittrock, M.C. (Ed.) (1981) Neuropsychological and Cognitive Processes in Reading. Reichmann, F. (1980) The Sources of Western Literacy: the Middle Eastern Civilizations. Hills, P. (Ed.) (1980) The Future of the Printed Word. Vellutino, F.R. (1979) Dyslexia: Theory and Research. Martin, Graham Dunstan (1981) The Architecture of Experience: a Discussion of the Role of Language and Literature in the Construction of the World. Martínez-Bonati, Félix (1981) Fictive Discourse and the Structures of Literature: a Phenomenological Approach. Ricoeur, Paul (1981) Hermeneutics and the Human Sciences: Essays on Language, Action and Interpretation. Young, Robert (Ed.) (1981) Untying the Text: A Post-structuralist Anthology. Levinson, H.N. (1980) Dyslexia: A Solution to the Riddle. Ericson, Britta (1981) Reading Disabilities and Emotional Disturbances. Arnold, Helen (1982) Listening to Children Reading. (UKRA Teaching of Reading Monograph.) Francis, Hazel (1982) Learning to Read. Tuunainen, K. & Chiaroni, A. (Ed.) (1982) Full Participation. (Proceedings of the Second European Conference on Reading, August, 1981.) Hendry, A. (Ed.) (1982) Teaching Reading: the Key Issues. (Proceedings of the Eighteenth Annual Conference of the United Kingdom Reading Association, July, 1981.)     

Book reviews

Book reviewed in this article: AINCOW, M. and TWEDDLE, D. (1984) Early Learning Skills Analysis. ANDERSON, R.C., OSBORN, J. and TIERNEY, R.J. (eds)(1984) Learning to Read in American Schools: Basal Readers and Content Texts. TUNMER, W.E., PRAIT, c. and HERRIMAN, M.L. (eds) (1984) Metalinguisfic Awareness in Children. Theory, Research, and Implications. DOWNING, J. and VALTIN, R. (eds) (1984) Language Awareness and Learning to Read. COCHRAN-SMITH, M. (1984) The Making of a Reader. GOELMAN, H., OBERG, A. and SMITH, F. (1984) Awakening to Literacy. KENNEDY, A. (1984) The Psychology of Reading. VAN DIJK, T.A. and KINTSCH, W. (1983) Strategies of Discourse Comprehension. EGOFF, SHEILA A. (1981) Thursday's Child. FLOOD, J. (1984) Understanding Reading Comprehension: Cognition, Language, and the Structure of Prose. Newark, Delaware: International Reading Association. ISBN 0-87207-7365. PETERS, M. (1984) Spelling: Caught or Taught? A New Look. GRONER, R., MENZ, c., FISHER, D.F. and MONTY, R.A. (eds) (1983) Eye Movements and Psychological Processes: international views. RAYNER, K. (ed.) (1983) Eye Movements in Reading: perceptual and language processes. HENDERSON, L. (1984) Orthographies and Reading. WALLER, T. GARY and MACKINNON, G.E. (eds) (1979) Reading Research Advances in Theory and Practice, Volume 1. MACMNNON, G.E. and WALLER, T. GARY. (eds) (1981) Reading Research Advances in Theory and Practice, Volume 2. MACMNNON, G.E. and WALLER, T. GARY (eds) (1981) Reading Research Advances in Theory and Practice, Volume 3 MACKINNON, G.E. and WALLER, T. GARY (eds) (1985) Reading Research Advances in Theory and Practice, Volume 4.     

Book reviews

Book reviewed in this article: UPWARD, c. (1992) Cut Spelling: a handbook to the simplification of written English by omission of redundant letters. CHALL, J., JACOBS, v. and BALDWIN, L. (1990) The Reading Crisis: Why Poor Children Fall Behind. LITTLEFAIR, A. (1990) Reading All Types of Writing. ROBECK, M.C. and WALLACE, R.R. (1990) The Psychology of Reading: An Interdisciplinary Approach. BALOTA, D.A., FLORES D'ARCAIS, G.B., and RAYNER, K. (eds) (1990) Comprehension Processes in Reading. SMITH, J., and ALCOCK, A. (1990) Revisiting Literacy: Helping Readers and Writers. CAIRNEY, T.H. (1990) Teaching Reading Comprehension.     

Book reviews

Oakhill, Jane and Beard, Roger Reading Development and the Teaching of Reading: A Psychological Perspective McGuinness, D, Why children can’t read: and what we can do about it Hill, Clifford and Larsen, EricChildren and Reading Tests Geekie, P., Cambourne, B., and Fitsimmons, P. Understanding Literacy Development     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Wilensky, R. (1980) Understanding Goal-Based Stories. Weiss, Jacques (Ed.) (1980) A la Recherche d'une Pkdagogie de la Lecture. Coltheart, M., Patterson, K. and Marshall, J.C. (Ed.) (1980) Deep Dyslexia. Edwards, P. and Nichols, R. (1980) Edwards Reading Test: Reading Selections, Manual of Directions and Pupil's Record Booklet. Fish, Stanley (1980) Is There a Text in This Class? The Authority of Interpretive Communities. Hulme, C. (1981) Reading Retardation and Multi-sensory Teaching. Kavanagh, J.F. and Venezky, R.L. (Ed.) (1980) Orthography, Reading and Dyslexia. Quin, V. and MacAuslan, A. (1981) Reading and Spelling Difficulties: A Medical Approach. Southgate, V., Arnold, H. and Johnson, S. (1981) Extending Beginning Reading.     

The dimensions of reading attitude for inner-city Detroit fifth graders

A principle-factor analysis of the 88 items comprising the Survey of Reading Attitudes investigated the construct validity of the eight dimensions of reading attitude. The sample consisted of 344 inner-city Detroit fifth graders. The factor structure showed support for the Expressed Reading as Difficulty, Reading as Enjoyment, Silent vs. Oral Reading, and Alternative Learning Modes dimensions. However, the Reading Anxiety dimension tended to merge with the Expressed Reading Difficulty dimension, and the Reading as Direct Reinforcement and Reading Group dimensions merged into a single dimension. This finding suggests these dimensions may be correlated, and an oblique rotation may be more appropriate. The Comics dimension split into two dimensions: Comic Books and Newspaper Comics. Thus, these findings generally cross-validate the dimensions of reading attitude found in earlier studies of the Survey of Reading Attitudes.     

Book Reviews

Books reviewed in this article: Southgate, Vera, Arnold, Helen and Johnson, Sandra. Extending Beginning Reading. Heeks, Peggy. Choosing and Using Books in the First School Heather, Pauline Young People's Reading: A Study of the Leisure Reading of 13-15 Year Olds Pavlidis, G. Th. and Miles, T.R. Dyslexia Research and Its Application to Education Ingham, Jennie. Books and Reading Development — The Bradford Book Flood Experiment     

Book Reviews

Books reviewed in this article: Tarnopol, L. and Tarnopol, M. (Ed.) (1981) Comparative Reading and Learning Difficulties. Benton, A.L. and Pearl, D. (Ed.) (1978) Dyslexia: An Appraisal o f Current Knowledge. Doehring, D.G., Trites, R.L., Patel, P.G. and Fiedorowicz, C.A.M. (1981) Reading Disabilities: The Interaction of Reading, Language, and Neuropsychological Deficits. Neville, M.H. and Pugh, A.K. (1982) Towards Independent Reading. Rye, J. (1982) Cloze Procedure and the Teaching of Reading.     

Reviews

Liebert, Burt and Liebert, Marjorie, (1979) A Schoolwide Stcondary Reading Program: Here's How. Holbrook, David (1980) English for Meaning Ahuja, G. C. and P. (1979) How to Increase Reading Speed     

Book Reviews

Books reviewed in this article: Balmuth, Miriam (1982) The Roots of Phonics: a historical introduction. Resnick, Daniel P. (1983) Literacy in Historical Perspective. Banfield, Ann (1982) Unspeakable Sentences: Narration and Representation in the Language of Fiction. Winter, Eugene (1982) Towards a Contextual Grammar of English: the Clause and Its Place in the Definition of Sentence. Hoey, Michael (1983) On the Surface of Discourse. Nuttall, C. (1982) Teaching Reading Skills in a Foreign Language. Berger, A. and Robinson, H.A. (Ed.) (1982) Secondary School Reading: What Research Reveals for Classroom Practice. Chapman, L.J. (1983) Reading Development and Cohesion. Engelkamp, J. and Zimmer, H.D. (1983) Dynamic Aspects of Language Processing.