Relationships among reading skills of adults with low literacy.
In this study, confirmatory factor analyses were used to examine the interrelationships among latent factors of the simple view model of reading comprehension (word recognition and language comprehension) and hypothesized additional factors (vocabulary and reading fluency) in a sample of 476 adult learners with low literacy levels. The results provided evidence for reliable distinctions between word recognition, fluency, language comprehension, and vocabulary skills as components of reading. Even so, the data did not support the hypothesis that the simple view needs to be expanded to include vocabulary or fluency factors, as has been posited in a few prior studies of younger and more able readers. Rather, word recognition and language comprehension alone were found to account adequately for variation in reading comprehension in adults with low literacy.
Sabatini
John P
JP
Educational Testing Service, Center for Validity Research-10-R, Princeton, New Jersey 08541, USA. jsabatini@ets.org
Sawaki
Yasuyo
Y
Shore
Jane R
JR
Scarborough
Hollis S
HS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D032882:Comprehension; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011932:Reading; D013060:Speech; D014825:Vocabulary; D055815:Young Adult