This book presents an informal history of books and reading, beginning with the first clay tablets and continuing on to the latest novels. The history recounted in the book reveals the power books have always had to delight and entertain, and to enlighten, educate, and "raise possibilities." But the story of reading also contains many…

A study examined the relationship between television viewing and reading behavior within a sample of 198 fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students: specifically, whether the amount and specific content of television being viewed affected reading achievement and leisure reading patterns. Intelligence and reading achievement scores of each participant…

PAST STUDIES ON READING AUDIENCE BEHAVIOR FOCUSED ON DIFFERENTIATING INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS ACCORDING TO THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF THE BOOKS THEY READ. THESE STUDIES DID NOT DEAL WITH INTERRELATIONSHIPS AMONG MEMBERS. AN APPROACH WAS NEEDED TO IDENTIFY WHAT CONSTITUTES A READING AUDIENCE AND HOW ITS MEMBERS INTERRELATE. AN AGGREGATE LEVEL APPROACH…

Deaf students entering postsecondary programs were surveyed about their recreational reading habits and preferences. Responses showed that deaf students read, on the average, 10 books a year, 4.1 magazines a month, and 6.4 newspapers a week. It was concluded that recreational reading is relatively independent of reading achievement. (Author/CB)

Relates an anecdote illustrating the variety of ways people can approach reading and suggests that young readers are frequently much more aware of the reading experience than parents suspect. Offers suggestions for parents to encourage their children's literary response. (HTH)

Discusses bibliographical and historical methods for discovering popular reading habits of past communities and presents a case study of the popular reading habits in Ulster between 1700 and 1900. Collectors of popular literature are discussed, and a definition of popular literature is suggested. (14 references) (LRW)

Finds that adult listeners to tape recordings of books are highly educated people who do a great deal of professional and recreational reading and who listen to books on tape for information and enjoyment while they are engaged in activities that require little concentration. (SR)

A study examined how much time college students spend reading for pleasure, when they do the most pleasure reading, and whether or not parental encouragement plays a role in pleasure reading habits. Subjects, 219 female and 113 male college seniors at a small public liberal arts university, completed three questionnaires as part of the…

In July 1986 the "Knoxville Journal" (a Gannett newspaper) changed its publication time from morning to afternoon and the "Knoxville News-Sentinel" (a Scripps-Howard newspaper) changed from afternoon to morning. One month later, researchers surveyed by telephone 505 newspaper subscribing households to examine reader opinions…

Independent reading is a necessary adjunct to a school reading program. If caried out with commitment, it can greatly influence students' lifetime reading habits. Unfortunately, today's educators are so involved with reading instruction and competency testing that independent or recreational reading may become a lost art. This paper asserts that…

Presents the results of a survey on the reading habits of elementary and secondary school students in Britain and analyzes the reading materials according to category and age level. (RB)

The 609 entries in this annotated bibliography are intended to help research workers who have an interest in the reading behavior of the general public and to stimulate ideas for further research. The entries are divided into nine sections covering general works; works providing a historical background; works dealing with the development from…

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS ARE COMMENDED FOR DEVELOPING LIFETIME READERS. ELEMENTARY TEACHERS TELL STORIES AND READ ALOUD WITH ZEST AND NATURAL AFFECTION. THEY STRUCTURE THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE AND CONDUCIVE TO FREE AND ENJOYABLE READING, AND THEY GIVE ATTENTION TO THE BASIC SKILLS OF LANGUAGE AS WELL AS TO THE CONTENT THAT…

Reports on a study using data from 13,395 young people to investigate displacement of book reading by television viewing. Found no general displacement of time from one activity to another. (ARH)

Discusses a number of devices for motivating students to read both in and out of the classroom. (DD)