University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Effects of text structure on children's comprehension of expository material

Moes, Mary A.; Foertsch, Daniel J.; Stewart, Janice; Dunning, David; Rogers, Theresa; Seda-Santana, Ileana; Benjamin, Linda White; Pearson, P. David

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/31262

Description

Title
Effects of text structure on children's comprehension of expository material
Author(s)
  • Moes, Mary A.
  • Foertsch, Daniel J.
  • Stewart, Janice
  • Dunning, David
  • Rogers, Theresa
  • Seda-Santana, Ileana
  • Benjamin, Linda White
  • Pearson, P. David
Issue Date
1984-06
Keyword(s)
  • text organization
  • reading comprehension
Abstract
The relationship between text organization and childrens' reading comprehension of expository material was investigated. Text organization manipulations involved macrostructures as outlined in Peters (1975-1976) and Frayer, Fredrick, and Klausmeier (1969) and microstructures as described in Davison and Kantor (1982). Upgraded and downgraded versions of both macro- and microstructures were combined to produce four texts on the topic of insect-eating plants. Each of the 43 seventh-grade students attending a midwestern university-affiliated laboratory school were randomly assigned to one of the four text conditions. The results from a reading comprehension, prior knowledge, and an Anderson-Freebody vocabulary test (Anderson & Freebody, 1981) were used as pretest measures. The various posttest measures were designed to be sensitive to particular text structure manipulations. An analysis of covariance using a hierarchal regression technique suggests that students benefit from reading text that is written to highlight comparisons among concepts presented in the passage (i.e., upgraded Frayer-like manipulations). The results of other recent research relevant to this issue are compared with the present study. Finally, both implications and plans for future research are considered.
Publisher
  • Champaign, Ill. : University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Center for the Study of Reading.
  • Cambridge, Mass. : Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc.
Series/Report Name or Number
Center for the Study of Reading Technical Report ; no. 316
Type of Resource
text
Language
eng
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/31262
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 1984 Board of Trustees University of Illinois

Owning Collections

Technical Reports - Center for the Study of Reading PRIMARY