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Adolescent reading skill and engagement with digital and traditional literacies as predictors of reading comprehension

Duncan, Lynne G.; McGeown, Sarah P.; Griffiths, Yvonne M.; Stothard, Susan E.; Dobai, Anna

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Authors

Lynne G. Duncan

Sarah P. McGeown

Yvonne M. Griffiths

Susan E. Stothard

Anna Dobai



Abstract

This study investigates the concurrent predictors of adolescent reading comprehension (literal, inferential) for fiction and non-fiction texts. Predictors were examined from the cognitive (word identification, reading fluency), psychological (gender), and ecological (print exposure) domains. Print exposure to traditional and digital texts was surveyed using a diary method of reading habits. A cross-sectional sample of 312 students in early (11–13 years) or middle adolescence (14–15 years) participated from a range of SES backgrounds. Word identification emerged as a strong predictor of reading comprehension across adolescence and text genres. Gender effects favouring female students were evident for reading frequency but not for reading skill itself. Reading habits also differed, and comprehension advantages were observed among females for fiction and males for non-fiction. Age effects emerged for reading frequency, which was lower in middle adolescence. Although more time was spent on digital than on traditional texts, traditional extended text reading was the only reading habit to predict inference-making in comprehension and to distinguish skilled from less skilled comprehenders. The theoretical and educational implications of these results are discussed.

Citation

Duncan, L. G., McGeown, S. P., Griffiths, Y. M., Stothard, S. E., & Dobai, A. (2016). Adolescent reading skill and engagement with digital and traditional literacies as predictors of reading comprehension. British Journal of Psychology, 107(2), 209-238. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12134

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 8, 2015
Online Publication Date Jun 12, 2015
Publication Date May 1, 2016
Deposit Date Jul 10, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal British Journal of Psychology
Print ISSN 0007-1269
Electronic ISSN 2044-8295
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 107
Issue 2
Pages 209-238
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12134

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Copyright Statement
This is the accepted version of the following article: Duncan, L. G., McGeown, S. P., Griffiths, Y. M., Stothard, S. E. and Dobai, A. (2016), Adolescent reading skill and engagement with digital and traditional literacies as predictors of reading comprehension. British Journal of Psychology, 107(2): 209-238, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12134. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.




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