Are Reading Habits and Abilities Related

Abstract

IN THE FALL of 1971 a three year study was begun to investigate the reading habits of children as they moved through fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. The study sought to answer a number of questions about the relationships between children's reading habits and their reading abilities. Do good readers read more books than poor readers? Do children who are good readers read a better quality of literature? Do the better readers obtain their books from a wider variety of sources? Are good readers more accepting of the recommendations of others in selecting books? Do good readers read more paper backs than poor readers? Are the better readers more aware of the authors of books they read? Do good readers reread a higher proportion of books? To determine the answers to these questions, children were asked to keep reading records for three years. Data from these records were com