A1 Journal article (refereed)
Development of silent reading fluency and reading comprehension across grades 1 to 9 : unidirectional or bidirectional effects between the two skills? (2023)


Psyridou, M., Tolvanen, A., Niemi, P., Lerkkanen, M.-K., Poikkeus, A.-M., & Torppa, M. (2023). Development of silent reading fluency and reading comprehension across grades 1 to 9 : unidirectional or bidirectional effects between the two skills?. Reading and Writing, 36, 1969-1996. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-022-10371-6

The research was funded by Strategic Research Council at the Research Council of Finland.


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editors: Psyridou, Maria; Tolvanen, Asko; Niemi, Pekka; Lerkkanen, Marja-Kristiina; Poikkeus, Anna-Maija; Torppa, Minna

Journal or series: Reading and Writing

ISSN: 0922-4777

eISSN: 1573-0905

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 25/10/2022

Volume: 36

Pages range: 1969-1996

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-022-10371-6

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/83777


Abstract

Purpose
This study examines the developmental interplay between silent reading fluency and reading comprehension from Grade 1 to Grade 9 (age 7 to 15) in a large Finnish sample (N = 2,518). Of particular interest was whether the associations are bidirectional or unidirectional.

Methods
Children’s silent reading fluency and reading comprehension skills were assessed using group-administered tests, at seven time points, in Grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 9. A random intercept cross-lagged panel model with latent factors was used to identify between- and within-person associations between silent reading fluency and reading comprehension. The use of latent factors allowed for the controlling of measurement error.

Results
The model showed that silent reading fluency and reading comprehension correlated at the between-person level, indicating that those who were proficient in one reading skill were typically good at the other also. At the within-person level, however, only some developmental associations emerged: in the early reading acquisition phase (Grade 1–2), silent reading fluency predicted reading comprehension, and in adolescence, reading comprehension weakly predicted silent reading fluency (Grade 7–9).

Conclusions
The results thus suggest only weak developmental within-person associations between silent reading fluency and comprehension, although some unidirectional associations emerged with a change in the direction of the associations over time.


Keywords: reading; reading comprehension; fluency; language development; children (age groups); young people

Free keywords: bidirectional effects; unidirectional effects; simple view of reading; interaction models; reading fluency; reading comprehension


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Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2022

JUFO rating: 2


Last updated on 2024-12-10 at 16:00