An earlier study by McConkie and Rayner (1974) was replicated in which reading strategies of college students were manipulated through the use of payoff conditions. The influence of four variables on reading speed and test performance was investigated: existence of a payoff structure, the form of the payoff structure, type of payoff, and presence or absence of feedback. Essential characteristics of the earlier study were replicated. The existence of a payoff structure had little effect by itself, but the form of the structure produced significant changes in reading rate. Feedback on performance appears critical in producing substantial reading strategy changes in readers.
References
1.
BloomB. S.Taxonomy of Educational Objectives: Handbook I — Cognitive Domain. New York: David McKay, 1956.
2.
HillW. R.Influence of direction upon the reading flexibility of advanced college readers. In: ThurstonE. L.HafnerL. E. (eds.). Thirteenth Yearbook of the National Reading Conference, 1964, 119–125.
3.
LetsonC. T.The relative influence of material and purpose on reading rates. Journal of Educational Research, 1959, 52, 238–240.
4.
LevinB. J.The flexibility of reading rate. In FigurelJ. A. (Ed.), Forging Ahead in Reading: Proceedings of the 12th Annual Conventions of the International Reading Association, 1968, 12(1), 596–603.
5.
McconkieG. W.RaynerK.Investigation of reading strategies: I. Manipulating strategies through payoff conditions. Journal of Reading Behaviour, 1974, 6, 9–18.
6.
WinerB. J.Statistical Principles in Experimental Design. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1962.
