A study of the independent reading preferences of intermediate grade children in three selected areas of Newfoundland

Hewitt, Benson L. (1986) A study of the independent reading preferences of intermediate grade children in three selected areas of Newfoundland. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF (Migrated (PDF/A Conversion) from original format: (application/pdf)) - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (5MB) [English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. (Original Version)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the independent reading preferences of children in grades four, five, and six, in three selected areas of Newfoundland, and to determine whether there were significant relations between these preferences and the grade level, sex, and geographical locations of the students. -- The instrument used in this survey was identical to that used by Drs. Edward G. Summers and Ann Lukasevich of the University of British Columbia in a survey they did of the reading preferences of intermediate-grade children in three Canadians cities in 1978. Fourteen representative categories of reading were included in the inventory, and following the paired comparison format were organized so that each category appeared first and second about an equal number of times, and a total group of ninety-one pairs was presented in random order. -- The sample consisted of 747 grade four, five, and six classes from areas of the province; namely, Gander, Glovertown, and Fogo Island. Whole classes, irrespective of ability, were included in the study. Testing was done within a six-week period during the fall term of the 1984-85 school year. -- An analysis of the rank order of reading preferences indicated that the most popular categories for students in this survey were mystery, adventure, romance, fantasy, and humour. The survey indicated, however, that reading preferences are affected by the variables of sex, grade level, and to a lesser extent, geographical location. An analysis of variance results (ANOVA) indicated highly significant preference difference for seven of the fourteen categories for the three communities; for five of the fourteen categories for grades four, five, and six, and eleven of the fourteen categories for boys and girls. Significant interactions were also found in combinations of community, grade, and sex for many of the fourteen categories. The survey indicated that Gander students and Glovertown students were fairly similar in their reading preferences, but that Fogo students varied significantly in their reading preferences, when their reading preferences were compared with either the reading preferences of Gander students of Glovertown students. There were also clear maturational changes in reading preferences for the three grades. The reading preference inventory (RPI) and the related index of reading preference (IRP) proved to be useful and reliable tools for measuring and ranking reading preferences in the intermediate grades, and could be used by teachers, librarians, and reading specialists, to help identify, develop and stimulate reading interests.

Actions (login required)

View Item