The study was designed to assess which of several classroom conditions of learning would affect the perceptual span development of Ss in an experimental training program. Ten classrooms (N = 232) were assigned to five conditions, one control and four experimental: Film-only group, Contingency group, Attention group, and Contingency-plus Attention group. The findings favored the Contingency-plus Attention group for perceptual span training and the Attention group for transfer to a standard reading situation. Related theory and research findings were discussed.
References
1.
AmbleB.Perceptual span training and reading achievement: An experimental study with elementary school children. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Iowa, 1963.
2.
AmbleB.Phrase reading training and reading achievement of school children. Journal of reading1966, 10, 210–218.
3.
AmbleB.Phrase reading development program: Primary series. Developed at Southern Illinois University. Chicago: Journal Films, 1967a.
4.
AmbleB.Reading by phrases. California Journal of Educational Research1967b, 18, 116–124.
5.
AmbleB.Phrase reading training with disadvantaged students: Four exploratory studies. (Tech. Rep. for Central Midwestern Regional Educational Laboratory, OEC 3–7–062875–3956), 1968.
6.
AmbleB.Phrase reading development: The enhancement of reading skills through perceptual span training. In WoldR. (Ed.) Visual and perceptual aspects for the achieving and underachieving child. Seattle: Special Child Publications, 1969a, 281–294.
7.
AmbleB.The perception of phrases. In WoldR. (Ed.) Visual and perceptual aspects for the achieving and underachieving Child. Seattle: Special Child Publications, 1969b, 295–315.
8.
AmbleB.ButlerG.Phrase reading training and the reading achievement of slow learners: An experimental study. Journal of Special Education1967, 1, 119–126.
9.
AmbleB.KellyF.Phrase reading training with fourth grade students: An experimental study. (Tech. Rep. for Central Midwestern Regional Educational Laboratory, OEC 3–7–062875–3956) Journal of Reading, 1970, in press.
10.
AmbleB.MuehlS.StroudJ.Phrase reading development program: Intermediate series. Developed at the University of Iowa. Chicago: Journal Films, 1964.
11.
AmbleB.MuehlS.Phrase reading training and reading achievement: A replication study. Journal of Experimental Education1966a, 35, 93–99.
12.
AmbleB.MuehlS.Perceptual span training and reading achievement of school children. Journal of Educational Psychology1966b, 57, 192–206.
13.
BrunerJ.Personality dynamics and the process of perceiving. In BlakeR.RamseyG. (Eds.) Perception: An approach to personality, New York: Ronald Press, 1951.
14.
BuswellG.Remedial reading at the college and adult level. Supplementary Educational Monographs, 1939, 50.
15.
DockerayF.The span of vision in reading and the legibility of letters. Journal of Educational Psychology1910, 1, 123–131.
16.
FangmanT.Phrase reading for mentally retarded. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Iowa, 1967.
17.
FreeburneC.The influence of training in perceptual span and perceptual speed upon reading ability. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Iowa, 1948.
18.
GreeneH.KelleyV.Iowa silent reading test. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, Inc., 1943.
19.
HaberR.Repetition as a determinant of perceptual recognition processes. In HaberR. (Ed.) Information-processing approaches to visual perception. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1969.
20.
HicksR.An investigation of the trainability of perceptual span. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Oregon, 1968.
21.
HueyE.Preliminary experiments in the physiology of reading. American Journal of Psychology, 1897–1898, 9, 576–586.
22.
KellyF.BeggsD.McneilK.LyonJ.EichelbergerT.Research design in the behavioral sciences: Multiple regression approach. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1969.
23.
OlsenR.The modification of perceptual efficiency in phrase reading. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Southern Illinois University, 1968.
24.
PostmanL.Toward a general theory of cognition. In RohrerJ.SherifM. (Eds.) Social psychology at the crossroads. New York: Harper, 1951.
25.
RaygorA.WarkD.WarrenA.Operant conditioning of reading rate: The effect of a secondary reinforcer. Journal of Reading1966, 9, 147–156.
26.
StaatsA.StaatsC.Complex human behavior. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1963.
27.
StaatsA.StaatsC.SchultzR.WolfM.The conditioning of textual responses using “extrinsic” reinforcers. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior1962, 5, 33–40.
28.
SingerH.A developmental model for speed of reading in grades three through six. Reading Research Quarterly, 1965, Fall, 29–49.
29.
TaylorE.The fundamental reading skill. Journal of Developmental Reading1958, 1, 21–30.
30.
TinkerM.The study of eye movements in reading. Psychological Bulletin1929, 26, 223–240.
31.
TulvingE.GoldG.Stimulus information and contextual information as determinants of tachistoscopic recognition of words. Journal of Experimental Psychology1963, 66, 319–327.