Work

Beyond word recognition, fluency, and vocabulary: The influence of reasoning on reading comprehension

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: ObjectiveWord recognition, fluency, vocabulary, and working memory have been established as predictors of reading comprehension in the first elementary school grades. However, the additional role of reasoning is not so clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of word recognition, fluency, vocabulary, working memory, verbal, and non‐verbal reasoning on reading comprehension, focusing on the additional effect of reasoning when the effects of the other variables are controlled.MethodA group of 159 students from the second and fourth grades was assessed.ResultsThe results indicated that all variables are correlated with reading comprehension and that the effect size varies according to the school grade. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses revealed that in second grade, fluency was the strongest predictor of reading comprehension and that reasoning had no effect on reading comprehension, after controlling for the previous variables. However, in the fourth grade, non‐verbal reasoning was the only significant unique predictor of reading comprehension, after accounting for the influence of the other variables.ConclusionsThese results highlight the importance of promoting the mastery of accurate and fluent reading in the lower grades while promoting reasoning abilities in the higher grades.

Source: Australian Journal of Psychology

DOI: 10.1111/ajpy.12095

Authors: Iolanda Ribeiro, Irene Cadime, Tânia Freitas, Fernanda Leopoldina Viana

Institution: University of Minho

Language: English

Topic: Reading and Literacy Development

Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, European Regional Development Fund