A study examined uses of newspapers by elderly persons, with emphasis given to the extent to which exposure and gratification patterns change by age segments within the aged, and what kinds of factors are associated with such changes. Data from a national sample of 1,308 elderly persons indicated that readership varies more by demographic and…

Because newspapers have begun switching from evening to morning publication with increasing frequency, a study investigated subscriber response to change in publication time and in subscriber behavior over time. In follow-up to an earlier study on subscriber reactions to the conversion to morning publication of the weekday Eugene (Oregon)…

To ascertain whether reading attitudes changed as boys and girls progressed through the grades, a reading attitude inventory was administered to 234 children in grades one through six. Items in the inventory were grouped into the following categories: free reading in the classroom, organized reading in the classroom, reading at the library,…

To continue the monitoring of reading attitude development begun in an earlier study of 234 children in grades one through six, a second reading attitude inventory was administered in the same school district to 216 primary students and 293 intermediate students. Of particular significance to this study was a change in the basal reading series…

The result of an International Reading Association committee organized to identify successful community programs that stimulate an interest in reading, this paper identifies and describes 10 selected program areas that might be used as models for other communities. Following a brief description of the project and the submission criteria, the 10…

Although literature and reading are considered liberal arts, it would seem that teachers of English and reading have been anything but "liberal" in their treatment of books and reading. By and large, teachers at all levels have failed to capitalize on the enormous potential of reading to make a significant difference in the lives of students. By…

An informal study examined the impact of a simple behavior modification procedure on the reading habits of second and fifth grade students. Behavior modification theory was pared down to two rules ("reinforce proper behavior" and "reinforce anything close to proper behavior") so that no additional burdens would be placed on…

A pilot study was designed to develop an instrument to examine students' self-perceptions regarding their own reading. An open survey was conducted in which 300 college students in a compensatory reading program listed those factors which might influence a person's reading ability. In all, 163 responses were listed, and these were reduced to 10…

Piagetian-type, indepth interviews were used to explore children's thinking at various ages about the process of reading, thereby gaining insights related to cognitive development across the developmental age span. Interview questions and follow-up probes were designed to elicit responses in three categories: definitions and purposes of reading,…

Thirty-one first grade students from four schools participated in an investigation of the attitudes toward beginning reading held by children from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Two of the schools were in inner-city, predominantly low-income, minority areas; one was in a middle-income area with approximately 27% minority enrollment, and one…

An instrument for measuring teacher attitudes toward reading and the teaching of reading and for relating reading attitudes and achievement within teachers was constructed with 15 concepts measured on ten scales. In 1974, the instrument and a reading achievement test were administered to 317 final-year elementary school student teachers in five…

Presents a set of arguments defending a humanist model of reading as opposed to students responding as individuals to literary works. (CRH)

In the mystery genre, the one characteristic that the enduring figures of Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew, and Encyclopedia Brown have in common is a rational mind. The source of their strength is their ability to think and think well. A study examined some typical examples of the mystery genre in young adult literature and surveyed children and…

The dichotomy a teacher educator experienced as a child between reading library books and "store-bought" books at home and reading the textbooks in school turned out to fuel major debates in the teaching of reading. She always believed that she had learned to read with books--she simply endured the school readers to get through school.…

Discusses the ability of books to transmit nourishment to the mind and spirit, the importance of fostering reading skills and habits in young children, and the danger of subordinating language and books to inert machinery in education. The roles of parents, schools, libraries and society as a whole are explored. (CLB)