The Relative Influence of Material and Purpose on Reading Rates

Abstract

An interest scale was used to compare secondary students expressing high social studies-low English interest versus low social studies- high English interest. Similar studies were conducted for social studies-math and social studies- science combinations. Statistical tests for differences between interest and I.Q., reading ability, grades, sex, and parent educational level indicated (1) boys express higher interest in social studies than in English, with girls the opposite; (2) girls express higher interest in social studies than in science, with boys the opposite; and (3) mothers of students expressing high social studies interest but low math interest have higher educational levels than do mothers of students expressing the opposite interests.