Two hundred children in grades K-3 were administered a test designed to assess knowledge of letter names in both upper- and lower-case primary type. Children exhibited better knowledge of upper- than lower-case letter names. Rank order, correlational analyses performed to determine the relationship of letter naming to visual discrimination and letter frequency revealed different patterns for upper- and lower-case letters. A subsequent, factor analytic treatment of the data also suggested differences in upper- and lower-case letter naming. Results are related to reading readiness norms and pedagogical implications are dealt with briefly.
References
1.
BarrettT.Predicting reading achievement through readiness tests. Reading and Inquiry, Proceedings of the International Reading Association1965, 10, 26–28.
2.
GatesA. I.MacginitieW. H.Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests, Readiness Skills, Kindergarten and Grade 1. Teacher's Manual. New York: Teacher's College Press, Columbia University, 1968.
3.
KatzP. A.KarpB.YaliscoverD.Verbal mediation of children's perception: the role of response variables. Journal of Experimental Psychology1970, 85, 349–355.
4.
HildrethG. H.GriffifthsN. L.McGauvranM. E.Metropolitan Readiness Tests, Manual of Directions. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, 1965.
5.
MurphyH.DurrellD.D.Murphy-Durrell Reading Readiness Analysis, Manual of Directions. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, 1965.
6.
OlsonA. V.Growth in word perception abilities as it relates to success in beginning reading. Journal of Education1958, 140, 25–26.
7.
RystromR.Evaluating letter discrimination problems in the primary grades. Journal of Reading Behavior1969, 4, 38–48.
8.
SamuelsS. J.Letter-name versus letter-sound knowledge as factors influencing learning to read. Paper read at American Educational Research Association at Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1970.
9.
SmytheP. C.StennettR. G.HardyM.WilsonH. R.Developmental patterns in elemental reading skills: Visual discrimination of primary-type upper-case letters. Mimeograph, Board of Education, London, Ontario, 1970.
10.
StennettR. G.SmytheP. C.HardyM.WilsonH. R.ThurlowM.Developmental patterns in elemental reading skills: Preliminary report. Mimeograph, Board of Education, London, Ontario, 1970.
11.
UnderwoodB. J.SchulzR. W.Meaningfulness and Verbal Learning. Chicago, Lippincott, 1960.
