Assessing the Dynamic Nature of Comprehension Processes

• In Event: Reading Processes

Abstract

This was to explored the extent that comprehension processes dynamically fluctuate as readers comprehend texts and the extent that individual differences moderate this fluctuation. College students read a series of history and science texts in the Reading Strategy Assessment Tool (RSAT). RSAT collect and analyzes concurrent verbal protocols. RSAT automatically scores the protocols and produced scores for three types of processes: paraphrasing the current sentence, bridging, and elaboration. The results indicate that there are different patterns of these process manifested over the course of the text as a function of prior text topic knowledge and comprehension skill. These results have implications for both theories of comprehension and interventions that teach reader too process text strategically as they read.

Authors

• Joe Magliano, Northern Illinois University

• Janet K. Holt, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

• Amanda Marie Durik, Northern Illinois University