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Interventions can enhance students' motivation for reading, but few researchers have assessed the effects of the specific motivation-enhancing practices that comprise these interventions. Even fewer have evaluated how students' perceptions of different intervention practices impact their later motivation and academic outcomes. In this study, we utilised data from a study of Concept-Oriented Reading Instruction, a programme designed to enhance seventh-grade students' reading comprehension and motivation. We examined the effects of students perceiving one practice from this intervention, emphasising the importance of reading, which was designed to enhance their task values for reading (Eccles-Parsons et al., 1983). Unexpectedly, structural equation modelling analyses showed that students' perceptions of importance support predicted their later competence-related beliefs, but not their task values. Students' competence-related beliefs predicted their reading comprehension and behavioural engagement, whereas students' task values predicted reading engagement. However, there were no significant indirect effects of perceiving importance support on students' reading outcomes.

This longitudinal study examined the development of reading motivation, engagement, and achievement in early adolescence by comparing interrelations of these variables in struggling and advanced readers. Participants were 183 pairs of seventh grade students matched in gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and school attended. They completed measures of reading motivations, engagement and comprehension for information text as well as measures of general reading comprehension and reading fluency twice during the school year. Advanced readers showed stronger relations of motivation and engagement with achievement than struggling readers. However, motivation predicted concurrent engagement and growth in engagement similarly for struggling and advanced readers. These results are interpreted as support for the hypothesis that cognitive challenges limit the relations of motivation and engagement to achievement for struggling readers. The discussion also considers the impact of the focus on the information text genre on the relations observed and implications of the findings for achievement motivation theories.

The present study investigated the multivariate relationships between several aspects of motivation and achievement in reading. Canonical correlation analysis was used to examine patterns of associations for reading information texts in Phase I and for reading literary texts in Phase II. The samples were 923 and 225 seventh graders, respectively. Results revealed three multivariate patterns for information text, whereas one pattern was observed for literary text. An explanation for the difference between reading motivation for information text and literary text is provided based on distinctions between these genres. Additionally, findings showed that undermining motivations predicted students' reading achievement more strongly than affirming motivations. The theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed. (Contains 6 tables and 4 figures.)

This study modeled the interrelationships of reading instruction, motivation, engagement, and achievement in two contexts, employing data from 1,159 seventh graders. In the traditional reading/language arts (R/LA) context, all students participated in traditional R/LA instruction. In the intervention R/LA context, 854 students from the full sample received Concept-Oriented Reading Instruction (CORI) while the remainder continued to receive traditional R/LA. CORI emphasizes support for reading motivation, reading engagement, and cognitive strategies for reading informational text. Seven motivation constructs were included: four motivations that are usually positively associated with achievement (intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, valuing, and prosocial goals) and three motivations that are usually negatively associated with achievement (perceived difficulty, devaluing, and antisocial goals). Reading engagement was also represented by positive and negative constructs, namely dedication to and avoidance of reading. Gender, ethnicity, and income were statistically controlled in all analyses. In the traditional R/LA context, a total network model prevailed, in which motivation was associated with achievement both directly and indirectly through engagement. In contrast, in the intervention R/LA context, a dual-effects model prevailed, in which engagement and achievement were separate outcomes of instruction and motivation. The intervention R/LA context analyses revealed that CORI was associated with positive changes in motivation, engagement, and achievement relative to traditional R/LA instruction. The discussion explains why there were different relations in the two instructional contexts and demonstrates the importance of simultaneously examining both positive (affirming) and negative (undermining) forms of motivation and engagement. (Contains 2 tables, 3 figures, and 1 note.)

Previous research has investigated motivations for reading by examining positive or affirming motivations, including intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy. Related to them, we examined two negative, or undermining, motivations consisting of avoidance and perceived difficulty. We proposed that the motivations of intrinsic motivation and avoidance are relatively independent and thus can be combined to form meaningful profiles consisting of avid, ambivalent, apathetic, and averse readers. With Grade 5 students we found that these motivations were relatively independent for both Caucasian and African American students. The two motivations uniquely explained a significant proportion of variance in reading comprehension and other cognitive reading variables. Although intrinsic motivation correlated higher with achievement than avoidance for Caucasians, avoidance correlated higher with achievement than intrinsic motivation for African Americans. For both groups, the profile of avid readers showed higher reading achievement than the other profiles. (Contains 5 tables and 1 figure.)

The processes of change in children's reading motivation have not been widely studied. We investigated whether situated interest for a specific book may lead to longer-term intrinsic motivation for general reading. Two schools with 120 grade 3 students filled out reading logs identifying their reasons for reading their favorite books twice. In addition, students completed general motivation and comprehension measures as a pre-assessment and as a post-assessment. Students who increased in their level of situated interest in an information book over time increased in their general reading motivation from September to December. Also, students who decreased in their level of situated extrinsic motivation for reading a narrative book decreased in general extrinsic motivation. It appeared that children's changes in situated motivation predicted their changes in general reading motivation, within an instructional context that supports engagement and motivation in reading. (Contains 5 tables and 2 figures.)

This study examined the extent that motivational processes facilitate the comprehension of texts and the extent of culture's role in children's motivational processes of text comprehension. Relationships between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, the amount of reading, past reading achievement, and text comprehension were examined by utilizing structural equation modeling. Fourth-grade students (187 U.S. and 197 Chinese) were administered a reading test and two questionnaires regarding reading motivation and reading amount. A final model fit the data well, showing that intrinsic motivation predicted text comprehension for both student groups after controlling for all other variables. Extrinsic motivation negatively predicted text comprehension except when associated with intrinsic motivation. Reading amount did not predict text comprehension after controlling for motivational variables. The structural relationships were statistically equivalent across the U.S. and Chinese groups. Cultural influences on reading motivation, reading amount, and comprehension were discussed.

In our theoretical framework, reading engagement entails multiple perspectives on reading that consist of motivational dispositions, cognitive strategies, conceptual understanding, and social discourse. Possessing these attributes, engaged readers are typically higher achievers than less engaged readers, who show fewer of these qualities or less integration among them. Because engaged readers spend 500% more time reading than disengaged students, educators should attempt to increase engaged reading time by 200% -500%. This may require substantial reconfigurations of curriculum. However, engaged reading is unique because it is both an effective means to achievement (engaged students improve in reading more than disengaged students) and a valued end or educational outcome. A research gap today is the lack of refined, empirical understanding about classroom practices that promote engagement. We designed Concept-Oriented Reading Instruction (CORI) to foster engagement through conceptual themes, hands- on experiences, self-directed learning, interesting texts, classroom discourse, and time for extended reading. For professional development, we attempt to convey the experiences, theory, beliefs, performances, and texts that will enable teachers to implement and generate instruction for engaged reading and learning.

Analyzed the 1994 Grade 4 Maryland National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) regarding the effects on reading achievement and engagement of: students' amount of engaged reading, parental education, gender, balanced reading instruction, and reading opportunities. Amount of engaged reading predicted reading achievement after controlling for parent education. Balanced reading instruction predicted reading achievement after accounting for engaged reading and parental education. (SM)

Identified school change in reading achievement on a statewide, high-stakes performance assessment. Meta-analyses of the effects of instructional practices in reading on achievement indicated that reading achievement change was directly associated with the characteristics of the school reading program in higher grades. Effects of instructional processes on reading achievement in grade 3 followed very different patterns from grade 5. (SM)

Reports the results of two studies which further examine the relations of motivational-variables contribution to reading achievement and text comprehension. Results revealed that reading amount significantly predicted text comprehension (with other variables controlled) in both studies (Study 1 included third and fifth graders; Study 2 included eighth and 10th graders). (SC)

Proposes a model for how document literacy and prose literacy are related to young adults' occupational status and their societal participation. Finds that the relatively low occupational status of Blacks appears to be attributable to their relatively low literacy achievement and literacy activity. (MG)

Reviews studies from the Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development, drawn together by David Berliner, regarding the amount of classroom learning time spent on reading, and suggests ways to use time effectively to improve reading achievement. (DD)

Points out that current alarmist rhetoric about widespread reading failure is not based on facts. (HOD)

Reviews research showing that teachers can improve student reading behaviors through direct instruction and reinforcement. (FL)

Reports the results of a longitudinal study that associated reading achievement with volume of reading and the selection of a book with its content, appearance, and its popularity with the reader's friends. (AEA)

Notes that there are no clear cut findings to be derived from research concerning the effects of television viewing on reading achievement. (FL)

Suggests grouping by social patterns as well as ability patterns. (MKM)

A study of about 3,000 sixth- and seventh-grade children, conducted by Barbara Heyns, suggests that normal development in reading over the summer requires reading for about one hour a day. (DD)

Describes the Kamehameha Early Education Program (KEEP) in Honolulu, Hawaii. Terms it an exceptional reading program illustrating how certain dynamics of social interaction may be essential for reading achievement. (FL)

Reviews research concerning the relationship between reading achievement and student leadership. (FL)