Previous research indicates that children comprehend more of high- than low-interest material when given both types of material. In this study fifth grade children each received either high-interest or low-interest cloze passages but not both. Results indicated that the interest effect is not dependent on a contrast phenomenon. (HOD)

Reports the results of an interest survey given to children in four fifth and sixth grade classrooms to determine if the sex differences in interest reported by earlier researchers were still in effect. Found that differences in reading material preferences between males and females still existed. (FL)

The purpose of the project outlined in this booklet is to enable upper elementary students to become familiar with the various departments of "The New York Times," to cope with headlines and lead paragraphs, and to develop a genuine interest in an adult newspaper. A general outline of the project by the teacher is provided, followed by…

Compares second grade and fifth grade students' recreational reading levels (when students self-select library books for recreation reading) in relation to independent, instructional, and frustration levels as determined with an informal reading inventory. Concludes that recreational reading levels should not be viewed as synonymous with…

A study was designed to formulate a taxonomy of the literary response processes of children. Three fifth grade girls reading above grade level were asked to read two books that treated a common subject (the death of a child) in different ways. Interviews with the children were recorded so that their literary responses could be analyzed for…

Fifth- and sixth-grade students were given reading passages of higher and lower interest and tested on their comprehension of these passages. Results revealed that higher interest materials significantly facilitated the reading comprehension of high ability students but had little effect on lower and middle ability students. (JD)

The impact of the sex of a story's main character on boys' and girls' reading interest and comprehension was studied with 540 fifth graders. A strong sex-of-reader/sex-of-main-character correlation was observed on the interest measure, while it had no effect on reading comprehension. (TJH)

A study explored the relationship of interest in story content, external incentives, and reading level to elementary school children's reading performance. The subjects, 75 fifth grade students who were either average or below-average readers, were asked to rate the content of five stories from "most" to "least" interesting and were then assigned…

A study was conducted to determine the stability of the effect of sex-typed reading material on the reading interests and comprehension of fifth grade boys and girls. It involved a direct replication of a 1967 study so that a comparison of data from the 312 subjects of that study could be made with the data from 374 subjects of 1979. Reading…

A study was conducted (1) to develop a more comprehensive theoretical framework for exploring the nature and process of response to literature, (2) to develop an integrated schema for analyzing responses, and (3) to apply this theory and schema to the responses of fifth and eighth grade students to two different kinds of texts. Subjects were ten…

To determine whether children find paperback books more appealing than hardbound books, children's reactions to paperback books were compared with their reactions to the same titles in hardbound format. A total of 150 fifth graders were divided into two groups: 78 children (42 boys and 36 girls) examined 30 hardbound books, and 72 children (38…

A study was conducted to compare students' recreational reading levels to their independent, instructional, and frustrational levels determinable with an informal reading inventory. Subjects, 20 second grade and 20 fifth grade students, were administered the Basic Reading Inventory. In addition, the school's librarian recorded titles of four books…

Eighty-one fifth grade students from a suburban parochial school were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups in a study designed to determine the effect of daily sustained silent reading (SSR) on student reading habits and attitudes toward reading. One teacher supervised 40 students in daily fifteen-minute periods of SSR, using…

A study investigated the relationships between reading interests, habits, and attitudes of third, fourth, and fifth grade students and the variables of teacher/parental influences, ethnic background, gender, and grade levels of the students. Subjects, a random sample of 101 Black, 92 White, 2 Chinese and 1 Arab low-to-middle socioeconomic-level…