Pathways to reading comprehension: A longitudinal study from 4 to 9 years of age
Journal article
Hjetland, Hanne Naess, Lervåg, Arne, Lyster, Solveig-Alma Halaas, Hagtvet, Bente Eriksen, Hulme, Charles and Melby-Lervåg, Monica. (2019). Pathways to reading comprehension: A longitudinal study from 4 to 9 years of age. Journal of Educational Psychology. 111(5), pp. 751 - 763. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000321
Authors | Hjetland, Hanne Naess, Lervåg, Arne, Lyster, Solveig-Alma Halaas, Hagtvet, Bente Eriksen, Hulme, Charles and Melby-Lervåg, Monica |
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Abstract | The two major determinants of reading comprehension are language comprehension and decoding, but prior studies of the development of reading comprehension from an early age show inconsistent results. To clarify these inconsistencies we report a 6-year longitudinal study (starting at Age 4 years) where we control for measurement error and track the development and interrelationships between a range of predictors of reading comprehension (language, decoding, and cognitive skills). We found two main pathways to reading comprehension: a highly stable language comprehension pathway (reflecting variations in vocabulary, listening comprehension, grammar, and verbal working memory) and a less stable code-related pathway (reflecting variations in phoneme awareness, letter knowledge, and rapid automatized naming). Early language comprehension at Age 4 years is strongly related to code-related predictors (phoneme awareness, letter knowledge, and rapid naming), and influences decoding indirectly through these constructs. Early oral language skills predicted initial levels of reading comprehension and its growth between the ages of 7 and 9 years. Strikingly, language comprehension and decoding, together with their interaction and curvilinear effects, explain almost all (99.7%) of the variance in reading comprehension skills at 7 years of age. Our study adds to prior knowledge in several important ways and provides strong support for an elaborated version of the simple view of reading (Gough & Tunmer, 1986). |
Keywords | reading comprehension; decoding; literacy; language development |
Year | 2019 |
Journal | Journal of Educational Psychology |
Journal citation | 111 (5), pp. 751 - 763 |
Publisher | American Psychological Association |
ISSN | 0022-0663 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000321 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85058408748 |
Page range | 751 - 763 |
Research Group | Institute for Learning Sciences and Teacher Education (ILSTE) |
Publisher's version | File Access Level Controlled |
Place of publication | United States of America |
Editors | S. Graham |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8q083/pathways-to-reading-comprehension-a-longitudinal-study-from-4-to-9-years-of-age
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