A comparison of silent reading comprehension and listening comprehension in fourth, sixth, and eighth grade students

dc.contributorDaniel L. Pearce
dc.creatorVerlaan, Wolfram
dc.date2012-08-05T22:57:45Z
dc.date2012-08-05T22:57:45Z
dc.date2012-08-05
dc.descriptionA dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction
dc.descriptionThis study investigated the relationship between listening and reading comprehension to determine: (a) if there has been a change in the equalization age for these two modalities from what was theorized by Thomas Sticht; and (b) to determine if there are interrelationships between proficient reading and listening comprehension, gender, and/or SES. The study employed a cross-sectional correlational design to test the listening and reading comprehension of 945 participants in two South Texas school districts; 223 fourth-, 354 sixth-, and 368 eighth-grade students participated in the study. Students were administered the Reading Comprehension sub test of the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test Fourth Edition (GMRT-4) Forms S and T to measure both reading and listening comprehension. Mean reading scores significantly exceeded mean listening scores at the fourth-grade, t(222) = 6.13, p < .001, d = 0.41, sixth-grade, t(353) = 11.63, p < .001, d = 0.62, and eighth-grade levels t(367) = 17.19, p < .001, d = 0.90, indicating a possible change in the age at which reading and listening comprehension had previously been theorized to equalize. In addition, results indicated that reading comprehension and listening comprehension were highly correlated at each of these grade levels with correlation values ranging from .62 to .64. This study also found an even higher correlation between listening comprehension and reading comprehension for proficient readers (students reading at or above grade level) with correlation values ranging from .65 to .74. Proficient reading was related to gender at the sixth-grade level and to SES at the eighth-grade level. Because the relationship of proficient reading to either SES or gender did not extend across more than one grade level, no firm conclusions regarding these factors could be reached.
dc.descriptionEducational Leadership, Curriculum & Instruction
dc.descriptionCollege of Education and Human Development
dc.identifierhttp://hdl.handle.net/1969.6/284
dc.languageen_US
dc.rightsThis material is made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with its source. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the author and/or publisher.
dc.subjectlistening comprehension
dc.subjectmedia effects on listening
dc.subjectmedia effects on reading
dc.subjectproficient reading
dc.subjectreading comprehension
dc.subjectreading/listening relationship
dc.titleA comparison of silent reading comprehension and listening comprehension in fourth, sixth, and eighth grade students
dc.typeText
dc.typeDissertation

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