A Study of the Relationship Between Intelligence and Improvement in Rate of Reading and Comprehension in a Program Utilizing the Harvard Reading Films

Abstract

A review of the literature reveals a great increase in interest in reading techniques and remedial work since the beginning of the Twentieth Century. Research in problems of reading has been predominantly concerned with difficulties occurring at the grade school and high school levels. Reading studies have been largely determined by the principle that the correct time to train students properly in reading is in childhood, or at the latest, in early adolescence. Laboratory research in intelligence, eye movements, defective optic mechanisms, emotional instability and the like have provided much valuable information regarding aspects of the reading process. It is however common knowledge that many students in college have reading disabilities of varying degrees of seriousness. College students have a need for reading and study-practices in nearly every aspect of their curriculum. They are in need of guidance in both their compulsory and voluntary reading; and they often need special remedial work. Many studies have been made in the last ten years with the aim in mind to aid the college student in reading more rapidly and efficiently. Interest has been stimulated in types of reading disabilities and their diagnosis. Remedial programs have been instituted to correct deficiency in comprehension, vocabulary, rate of reading and eye movements. Reading clinics have been organized in colleges so that individualized training may be given. Progress has definitely been made in problems in reading at the college level. In addition, many mechanical instruments have been devised to aid in reducing reading difficulties. A few of these instruments are the Metronoscope, Tachistoscope, Flashmeter, and Harvard Reading Films. All have a common purpose, that of improving the fixation span of the reader. There is a divergency of opinion regarding the value of these instruments in a reading program. Traxler, in an article dealing with the value of controlled reading, indicates a lack of clear-cut evidence either favorable or unfavorable to controlled reading. Nevertheless, he feels that the results from the use of these instruments is favorable to the use of controlled reading. Further research is necessary to indicate the true value of these instruments. Since the Harvard Reading Films were utilized in this reading program, a comparison of the initial and final reading scores of the subjects might serve to give as light indication of the value of this instrument. Investigations have been conducted to discover different factors influencing the reading process. Such factors as vision, color-blindness, hearing, speech effects, physical fitness, defects of imagery, hand-and-eye-dominance, eye movement, emotional instability, and intelligence have been explored to note their influence in the process of reading. It is the purpose of this study to investigate the relationship of intelligence to improvement in rate of reading and comprehension in a program utilizing the Harvard Reading Films. Correlating the data obtained from an intelligence test and two reading tests given both before and after the film and reading selections should result in an indication of the degree of relationship between intelligence and rate of speed and comprehension. If the obtained correlations are substantial or high then it may be possible to predict the degree of gain that a student might make in improving his reading ability. Evidence will be presented to indicate the limitation intelligence sets upon the college student's capacity to improve rate of reading and comprehension. Should the results reveal a negligible relationship between intelligence and improvement in reading ability, then it may be possible that other factors are influencing the reading process. Such factors should then be explored to indicate their relationship to reading. Other mechanical instruments might be used to explore these factors more fully. There are many possibilities for exploration in reading problems at the college level. It is hoped that this study will contribute to the increasing amount of knowledge regarding the reading habits of college students. ....