Psychology Library Editions: Psychology of Reading – serie

Originally published in 1995, this collection of papers introduced a new dimension to the understanding of reading by focusing on the relation between spoken and written language processing. New perspectives on speech and reading are introduced by highlighting aspects of the two linguistic skills that had received little attention in the past. The comparative perspective adopted in this collection presents an innovative focus on speech and the acquisition of alphabetic reading skill. Major new sources of evidence are discussed, like reading in nonconventional input modalities, braille reading, and speech processing in lip-reading. Contributors also discuss the reading process in non-alphabetic orthographies and the specifics of the reading acquisition problem in logographic or mixed writing systems (like Chinese and Japanese) and their relations to underlying speech representations. A central concern of all chapters is the role of phonological processes in different modalities and writings systems, and at different stages in the reading acquisition process. Drawing on expertise of the contributors, the book presents a novel and varied view of the achievements, the promises and the challenges facing the researcher once the intimate link between speech and reading comes to the foreground.

Originally published in 1995, this collection of papers introduced a new dimension to the understanding of reading by focusing on the relation between spoken and written language processing. New perspectives on speech and reading are introduced by highlighting aspects of the two linguistic skills that had received little attention in the past. The comparative perspective adopted in this collection presents an innovative focus on speech and the acquisition of alphabetic reading skill. Major new sources of evidence are discussed, like reading in nonconventional input modalities, braille reading, and speech processing in lip-reading. Contributors also discuss the reading process in non-alphabetic orthographies and the specifics of the reading acquisition problem in logographic or mixed writing systems (like Chinese and Japanese) and their relations to underlying speech representations. A central concern of all chapters is the role of phonological processes in different modalities and writings systems, and at different stages in the reading acquisition process. Drawing on expertise of the contributors, the book presents a novel and varied view of the achievements, the promises and the challenges facing the researcher once the intimate link between speech and reading comes to the foreground.

Originally published in 1983, recent advances in cognitive psychology had revealed that reading and spelling disabilities may be due to deficits in basic cognitive processes. Dr Jorm looks at each type of disability in detail, in relation to normality as well as intellectual disability (formerly called retardation), and finds that the new research provides a useful approach to seemingly intractable problems. He covers a broad range of topics, including the social context of reading disabilities, the role of biological factors, remedial teaching, and prevention of literacy problems. He also gives a forward-looking account of how research at the time on the cognitive processes in comprehension might aid our understanding of the relatively neglected group of children who can read individual words yet fail to comprehend adequately.Reading disabilities are increasingly serious in a culture which places an ever higher value on literacy, and the discoveries of the cognitive psychologists are presented here in a way that will still be accessible to all those teachers and parents who want to know about developments in the past.

Originally published in 1983, recent advances in cognitive psychology had revealed that reading and spelling disabilities may be due to deficits in basic cognitive processes. Dr Jorm looks at each type of disability in detail, in relation to normality as well as intellectual disability (formerly called retardation), and finds that the new research provides a useful approach to seemingly intractable problems. He covers a broad range of topics, including the social context of reading disabilities, the role of biological factors, remedial teaching, and prevention of literacy problems. He also gives a forward-looking account of how research at the time on the cognitive processes in comprehension might aid our understanding of the relatively neglected group of children who can read individual words yet fail to comprehend adequately.Reading disabilities are increasingly serious in a culture which places an ever higher value on literacy, and the discoveries of the cognitive psychologists are presented here in a way that will still be accessible to all those teachers and parents who want to know about developments in the past.

Originally published in 1984, this new introductory text fulfilled a need amongst both psychology and education students for a book which dealt with reading in a way that explored areas beyond the strictly practical question of how to teach children to read. Previous books on the psychology of reading had often concentrated on the analytic approach, in which reading had been seen in terms of a set of interconnected sub-skills and the experimental study of these components had become an end in itself. As a result, although great advances had been made in our understanding of certain aspects of the process, psychological studies of reading had increasingly been seen by teachers and others as unduly abstract.The Psychology of Reading goes back to first principles and attempts to set reading in its context alongside other cognitive activities, particularly those involving memory and perceptual processes. Professor Kennedy argues that it is wrong to set reading apart as a ‘skill’ when it needs to be understood against a background of work in cognitive psychology. Reading is a social phenomenon concerned with human communication, and in this context it must be seen in terms of an interaction between writer and reader. The book explores the nature of this interaction and the various stylistic and other devices which sustain the ‘contract’ between reader and writer. In particular, the psychological processes which allow a reader to make sensible assumptions about a writer’s intentions are dealt with in detail. No theory of reading, the author argues, should ignore the purpose of the enterprise. Similarly, explaining success and failure in teaching children to read may well hinge on an understanding of what children think reading is about. The style of this book is concise and largely non-technical. The Psychology of Reading will be welcomed as stimulating and demanding by experts and non-specialist general readers alike.

Originally published in 1984, this new introductory text fulfilled a need amongst both psychology and education students for a book which dealt with reading in a way that explored areas beyond the strictly practical question of how to teach children to read. Previous books on the psychology of reading had often concentrated on the analytic approach, in which reading had been seen in terms of a set of interconnected sub-skills and the experimental study of these components had become an end in itself. As a result, although great advances had been made in our understanding of certain aspects of the process, psychological studies of reading had increasingly been seen by teachers and others as unduly abstract.The Psychology of Reading goes back to first principles and attempts to set reading in its context alongside other cognitive activities, particularly those involving memory and perceptual processes. Professor Kennedy argues that it is wrong to set reading apart as a ‘skill’ when it needs to be understood against a background of work in cognitive psychology. Reading is a social phenomenon concerned with human communication, and in this context it must be seen in terms of an interaction between writer and reader. The book explores the nature of this interaction and the various stylistic and other devices which sustain the ‘contract’ between reader and writer. In particular, the psychological processes which allow a reader to make sensible assumptions about a writer’s intentions are dealt with in detail. No theory of reading, the author argues, should ignore the purpose of the enterprise. Similarly, explaining success and failure in teaching children to read may well hinge on an understanding of what children think reading is about. The style of this book is concise and largely non-technical. The Psychology of Reading will be welcomed as stimulating and demanding by experts and non-specialist general readers alike.

Originally published in 1981, this volume is the edited proceedings of a conference held at the Learning Research and Development Center of the University of Pittsburgh in September 1979. The 15 chapters share a number of common issues. These include the role of contextual influences on lexical access, specific models of lexical access and word pronunciation, speech and visual processes in reading, the role of knowledge in comprehension, and sources of skill difference and skill development.

Originally published in 1981, this volume is the edited proceedings of a conference held at the Learning Research and Development Center of the University of Pittsburgh in September 1979. The 15 chapters share a number of common issues. These include the role of contextual influences on lexical access, specific models of lexical access and word pronunciation, speech and visual processes in reading, the role of knowledge in comprehension, and sources of skill difference and skill development.

Originally published in 1987, Being Skilled presents a new model of how children learn to read, and in particular those who learn quickly and precociously. Bringing together ideas from such diverse sources as cognitive and developmental psychology and behaviour analysis perspectives on learning, Stuart McNaughton has produced a more complete theory based on a study of homes and classrooms, and the characteristics of reading behaviour in these settings. Within this theory reading is seen as a symbolic skill with structural properties that partly determine development; but it is also a social practice, in which learning is achieved through problem-solving and the performing of tasks set by particular environments. Drawing on extensive research carried out in Britain, North America and Australasia, McNaughton examines how interactions between teacher and child direct the task of learning to read, and how the relationship between home and school can be a well-matched or a poorly-matched setting in which learning may occur. Being Skilled will appeal to advanced students, researchers and theorists in education and development psychology and to anyone interested in the learning of complex skills.

Originally published in 1987, Being Skilled presents a new model of how children learn to read, and in particular those who learn quickly and precociously. Bringing together ideas from such diverse sources as cognitive and developmental psychology and behaviour analysis perspectives on learning, Stuart McNaughton has produced a more complete theory based on a study of homes and classrooms, and the characteristics of reading behaviour in these settings. Within this theory reading is seen as a symbolic skill with structural properties that partly determine development; but it is also a social practice, in which learning is achieved through problem-solving and the performing of tasks set by particular environments. Drawing on extensive research carried out in Britain, North America and Australasia, McNaughton examines how interactions between teacher and child direct the task of learning to read, and how the relationship between home and school can be a well-matched or a poorly-matched setting in which learning may occur. Being Skilled will appeal to advanced students, researchers and theorists in education and development psychology and to anyone interested in the learning of complex skills.

A child with developmental dyslexia or an adult with a reading disorder following brain damage might read the word shoe as ‘show’, why does this happen?Most current information processing models of reading distinguish between two alternative procedures for the pronunciation of a printed word. The difference between these concerns the level at which orthography is translated to phonology in one, the word-level procedure, a word is read aloud with reference to knowledge specific to that whole word. In the other, the sub-word-level procedure, a printed word is pronounced with reference to knowledge about smaller segments which occur in many different words.Both procedures contribute to normal skilled reading and its acquisition. But if one of the procedures is disrupted, then oral reading will be forced to rely on the alternative routine. Surface dyslexia is a general label for any disorder of reading which results from inadequate functioning of the word-level procedure and in consequence abnormal reliance on sub-word level translation from orthography to phonology.Originally published in 1985, this book provides new evidence about the diverse manifestations of surface dyslexia in adult neurological patients and in children with developmental disorders of reading. The data are drawn from speakers of a range of languages with distinct orthographies. Process models for the pronunciation of print are elaborated, and an appendix gives neurological information on the patients reported.

A child with developmental dyslexia or an adult with a reading disorder following brain damage might read the word shoe as ‘show’, why does this happen?Most current information processing models of reading distinguish between two alternative procedures for the pronunciation of a printed word. The difference between these concerns the level at which orthography is translated to phonology in one, the word-level procedure, a word is read aloud with reference to knowledge specific to that whole word. In the other, the sub-word-level procedure, a printed word is pronounced with reference to knowledge about smaller segments which occur in many different words.Both procedures contribute to normal skilled reading and its acquisition. But if one of the procedures is disrupted, then oral reading will be forced to rely on the alternative routine. Surface dyslexia is a general label for any disorder of reading which results from inadequate functioning of the word-level procedure and in consequence abnormal reliance on sub-word level translation from orthography to phonology.Originally published in 1985, this book provides new evidence about the diverse manifestations of surface dyslexia in adult neurological patients and in children with developmental disorders of reading. The data are drawn from speakers of a range of languages with distinct orthographies. Process models for the pronunciation of print are elaborated, and an appendix gives neurological information on the patients reported.

Research in cognitive psychology, linguistics, and artificial intelligence – the three disciplines that have the most direct application to an understanding of the mental processes in reading – is presented in this multilevel work, originally published in 1980, that attempts to provide a systematic and scientific basis for understanding and building a comprehensive theory of reading comprehension. The major focus is on understanding the processes involved in the comprehension of written text. Underlying most of the contributions is the assumption that skilled reading comprehension requires a coordination of text with context in a way that goes far beyond simply chaining together the meanings of a string of decoded words. The topics discussed are divided into five general areas: Global Issues; Text Structure; Language, Knowledge of the World, and Inference; Effects of Prior Language Experience; and Comprehension Strategies and Facilitators, and represent a broad base of methodology and data that should be of interest not only to those concerned with the reading process, but also to basic science researchers in psychology, linguistics, artificial intelligence, and related disciplines.

Research in cognitive psychology, linguistics, and artificial intelligence – the three disciplines that have the most direct application to an understanding of the mental processes in reading – is presented in this multilevel work, originally published in 1980, that attempts to provide a systematic and scientific basis for understanding and building a comprehensive theory of reading comprehension. The major focus is on understanding the processes involved in the comprehension of written text. Underlying most of the contributions is the assumption that skilled reading comprehension requires a coordination of text with context in a way that goes far beyond simply chaining together the meanings of a string of decoded words. The topics discussed are divided into five general areas: Global Issues; Text Structure; Language, Knowledge of the World, and Inference; Effects of Prior Language Experience; and Comprehension Strategies and Facilitators, and represent a broad base of methodology and data that should be of interest not only to those concerned with the reading process, but also to basic science researchers in psychology, linguistics, artificial intelligence, and related disciplines.

Originally published in 1984, the previous two decades had seen a rebirth of psychological interest in the process of reading. Attention had increasingly been directed to aspects of fluent reading, such as eye-movement control or contextual effects within the sentence, to a great extent progress had depended on refinement of the experimental analysis of factors that govern the processing of isolated words. This seemingly narrow concern with word recognition turned out to raise a rich collection of questions about the reader’s access to phonology and meaning. In this volume these questions are pursued across the range of orthographic systems which written languages exhibit.

Originally published in 1984, the previous two decades had seen a rebirth of psychological interest in the process of reading. Attention had increasingly been directed to aspects of fluent reading, such as eye-movement control or contextual effects within the sentence, to a great extent progress had depended on refinement of the experimental analysis of factors that govern the processing of isolated words. This seemingly narrow concern with word recognition turned out to raise a rich collection of questions about the reader’s access to phonology and meaning. In this volume these questions are pursued across the range of orthographic systems which written languages exhibit.

The need to know why as well as how children and youth respond as they do to reading instruction has guided the selection of this book’s content. The second edition of this title, originally published in 1990, has retained and elaborated upon the three major themes previously presented: that reading is a linguistic process; that motivation, the affective domain, may be as important in learning to read as the cognitive domain; and that the reality of learning theory is to be found in the mechanisms of the brain where information is mediated and memory traces are stored.The text integrates views from cognitive psychology, psycholinguistics, and neuropsychology as they relate to reading and writing. A learning-motivation model is provided to present associative learning, conceptualization, and self-directed reading in a hierarchical relationship with distinct cognitive and affective components. The distinction between beginning and proficient reading is maintained throughout the text.

Bringing together neurological assessments of reading and cognition, this provocative volume, originally published in 1985, presents eight major and sometimes controversial studies on the parts and patterns of the reading process. With comprehensive coverage ranging from psycholinguistics and education to neurophysiology, these studies highlight new directions in the field at the time. The contributors support an interactive rather than dichotomous model of brain function, and stress individual differences in assessing reading and cognitive skills.

Bringing together neurological assessments of reading and cognition, this provocative volume, originally published in 1985, presents eight major and sometimes controversial studies on the parts and patterns of the reading process. With comprehensive coverage ranging from psycholinguistics and education to neurophysiology, these studies highlight new directions in the field at the time. The contributors support an interactive rather than dichotomous model of brain function, and stress individual differences in assessing reading and cognitive skills.

Originally published in 1985, the various chapters in this volume give examples of research on all three aspects of text understanding – namely, structure, world knowledge and process. More than this, however, the research described represents a shift in emphasis from studying stories, which dominated the field in the late 1970s, to studying expository text. This focus on stories was probably due to the essential first step in any science of examining the simplest materials possible. However, the editors thought that it was time to shift the research focus from stories to expository text and this volume is their attempt to provide this transition.