iPost Research Byte: Cognitive factors of reading fluency

Cognitive development of fluent word reading does not qualitatively differ between transparent and opaque orthographies. Vaessen, Anniek; Bertrand, Daisy; Tóth, Dénes; Csépe, Valéria; Faísca, Luís; Reis, Alexandra; Blomert, Leo. Journal of Educational Psychology, Oct 11, 2010, No Pagination Specified. doi: 10.1037/a0019465

Abstract

[Note-blogmaster has inserted hypothesized CHC broad and narrow ability codes as designed by brackets]

Although the transparency of a writing system [Grw] is hypothesized to systematically influence the cognitive skills associated with reading development, results of cross-language investigations are inconsistent and usually do not address this issue in a developmental context. We therefore investigated the cognitive dynamics of reading fluency [Grw/Gs-RS] of different word types in Grades 1–4 in three orthographies differing in degree of transparency (Hungarian, Dutch, and Portuguese). The overall results showed that the relative strength of the contributions of phonological awareness [Ga-PC] and rapid naming [Glr-NA] to word reading fluency shifted as a function of reading expertise: The contribution of phonological awareness remained significant in all grades but decreased as a function of grade, whereas the contribution of rapid naming increased. Orthographic depth systematically modulated the strength of the cognitive contributions to reading, but not the overall developmental pattern. Together, these results indicate that the cognitive development of reading skill is fairly universal (at least for alphabetic scripts) and that differences in orthographic depth will not recruit different cognitive processes but will mainly be expressed in rate of reading development.

Grw Glr RAN Ga CHC theory reading reading fluency Orthography IQs Corner

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