The authors outline results of 3 studies conducted to examine the structure of disciplinary knowledge from reading measured through proximity data. In Study 1, 168 third-grade students were asked to read a science text and rate the relationships of keywords from the passage. From these ratings, comprehension scores were calculated that related…

The authors examined how motivational and cognitive variables predict reading comprehension, and whether each predictor variable adds unique explanatory power when statistically controlling for the others. Fourth-grade students (N = 205) completed measures of reading comprehension in September and December of the same year, and measures of…

This study examined the relationships of 3 levels of reading fluency--the individual word, the syntactic unit, and the whole passage--to reading comprehension among 278 5th graders heterogeneous in reading ability. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that reading fluency at each level related uniquely to performance on a standardized reading…

The engagement model of reading development suggests that instruction improves students' reading comprehension to the extent that it increases students' engagement processes in reading. We compared how Concept-Oriented Reading Instruction (CORI) (support for cognitive and motivational processes in reading), strategy instruction (support for…

Advocates communicating the conventional wisdom about teaching to researchers so we can reduce the amount of trivial research that is conducted. (HOD)

Argues that metacognition gives a framework for understanding earlier studies on the relationship between reading rate and text characteristics and points toward an explanation for reading flexibility. (FL)

Summarizes the findings of Perry Thorndyke's investigation of knowledge acquisition from newspaper stories. (DD)

Examines research work done on how writers think as they compose in nonacademic settings and relates their findings to reading instruction. (HOD)

Considers how a person unaware of the text and choosing not to make meaning from it obtains little comprehension. Examines a motivational-cognitive model of reading that contributes to text comprehension. Notes that the motivational process is divided into five parts: (1) Task Mastery Goals; (2) Intrinsic Motivation; (3) Self-Efficacy; (4)…

Concludes that (1) knowing whether we comprehend as we read is indispensible to the process of understanding itself; and (2) without self-monitoring, there can be little textbook learning and even less hope for informed participation in democracy. (FL)

Examines, in two studies, the cognitive processes involved in locating specific information in a document, such as a table or directory. Concludes that efficient search is a matter of selective inspection to retrieve information relevant to specific goals. (SR)

Presents information regarding frequently occurring reading tasks both at work and in leisure settings. Concludes that (1) competencies exist that can be measured independently, (2) these competencies are distinguishable in terms of goals and procedures of reader, and (3) activity as measured by time spent with material for a specific task is…

Investigates a cognitive model which proposes to account for performance in formation of a goal, selection of an information category, extraction of the information, integration of the information, and recycling until the goal of locating information in documents is met. Indicates that overall performance was facilitated by the model. (JK)

Compares multiple choice testing with free response formats in terms of the cognitive operations each type demands. (HOD)

The development of cognitive processes is essential to the development of reading comprehension skills. (MKM)