The effects of illustrations on comprehension were investigated among 32 learning disabled elementary-aged students. Students read an illustrated passage and a non-illustrated passage and answered eight comprehension questions following each passage. Results showed significantly more correct responses to comprehension questions following the non-illustrated passages. Results are discussed in relation to the purported benefits of illustrations. Implications for instruction and suggestions for future research are presented.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Braun, C. (1969). Interest load and modality effects on textual response acquisition. Reading Research Quarterly, 4, 428–444.
2.
Carnine, D., & Silbert, J. (1979). Direct instruction reading. Columbus, OH: Charles Merrill.
3.
Clements, S.D. (1966). Minimal brain dysfunction in children (NINDS Monograph No. 3, U.S. Public Health Service Publication No. 1415). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
4.
Cruickshank, W. (1967). The brain-injured child in home, school, and community. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press.
Early, M., Cooper, E.K., Santeusanio, N., & Adell, M. (1970). The Bookmark reading program-Teacher's edition for together we go and reading skills four. New York: Harcourt, Brace, & World.
7.
Ellson, D.G., Engle, T.L., Barber, L., & Kempworth, L. (1962). Programming teaching of elementary reading: A progress report. Bloomington: Indiana University.
8.
Gombrich, G.E. (1972). The visual image. Scientific American, 227, 82–96.
9.
Harber, J.R. (1980). Effects of illustrations on reading performance: Implications for further LD research. Learning Disability Quarterly, 3, 61–70.
10.
Harber, J.R. (1983). The effects of illustrations on the reading performance of learning disabled and normal children. Learning Disability Quarterly, 6, 55–60.
11.
Kennedy, J.M. (1974). A psychology of picture perception. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
12.
Koenke, K., & Otto, W. (1979). Contribution of pictures to children's comprehension of the main idea in reading. Psychology in the Schools, 6, 298–302.
13.
Lloyd, J., Hallahan, D.P., & Kauffman. J.M. (1980). Learning disabilities: A review of selected topics. In L. Mann & D.A. Sabatino (Eds.), The fourth review of special education (pp. 35–60) New York: Grune & Stratton.
14.
Mercer, C.D., & Mercer, A.R. (1981). Teaching students with learning problems. Columbus, OH: Charles Merrill.
Rose, T.L., & Furr, P.M. (1984). Negative effects of illustrations as word cues. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 17, 334–337.
17.
Rose, T.L., & Robinson, H.H. (1984). Effects of illustrations on learning disabled students' reading performance. Learning Disability Quarterly, 7, 165–171.
18.
Ross, W.O. (1976). Psychological aspects of learning disabilities and reading disorders. New York: McGraw-Hill.
19.
Samuels, S.J. (1967). Attentional process in reading: The effects of pictures on the acquisition of reading response. Journal of Educational Psychology, 58, 337–342.
20.
Samuels, S.J. (1970). Effects of pictures on learning to read, comprehension, and attitudes. Review of Educational Research. 40, 397–407.
Willows, D.M. (1978). A picture is not always worth a thousand words: Pictures as distractors in reading. Journal of Educational Psychology, 70, 255–262.