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University Microfilms international 300 N. Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 8225502 Foster, Susan C. THE EXPRESSED READING INTEREST OF THIRD AND FIFTH GRADE CHILDREN IN SELECTED OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS The University of Oklahoma PH.D. 1982 University Microfilms I n te r n ât i O n QI 300 N. zeeb Road. Ann Arbor. MI 48106 PLEASE NOTE: In all cases this material has been filmed in the best possible way from the available copy. Problems encountered with this document have been identified here with a check mark V 1. Glossy photographs or pages. 2. Colored illustrations, paper or print_____ 3. Photographs with dark background_____ 4. Illustrations are poor copy______ 5. Pages with black marks, not original copy. 6. Print shows through as there is text on both sides of page. 7. Indistinct, broken or small print on several pages______ 8. Print exceeds margin requirements______ 9. Tightly bound copy with print lost in spine_______ 10. Computer printout pages with indistinct print. 11. Page(s) lacking when material received, and not available from school or author. 12. Page(s) 63 seem to be missing in numbering only as text follows. 13. Two pages numbered____________. Text follows. 14. Curling and wrinkled pages______ 15. Other ____________________________________________________________________ University Microfilms International THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA GRADUATE COLLEGE THE EXPRESSED READING INTERESTS OF THIRD AND FIFTH GRADE CHILDREN IN SELECTED OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY BY SUSAN FOSTER Norman, Oklahoma 1982 THE EXPRESSED READING INTERESTS OF THIRD AND FIFTH GRADE CHILDREN IN SELECTED OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS APPROVED BY Richard P. Williams, Chairman Robert Curry, Member Gerald Kidd, Member CharlycgyKing, Loy PricKrett, Member f Edmund Ruttall. Member ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my gratitude for the people who made this study possible. Dr. Richard P. Williams, who served as my cnairman and friend, I am grateful for his guidance and encouragement in so many areas of professional development. A very special thanks to him. Dr. Robert Curry, Dr. Gerald Kidd, Dr. Charlyce King, Dr. Loy Prickett, and Dr. Edmund Nuttall served as committee members and provided the input necessary to complete this study. I thank them for their time and patience. I would also like to thank my friends and colleagues for their support and lending an ear when needed. Thanks to all of you. A very special expression of appreciation and love is extended to my husband, Joe, for his continued encouragement and understanding. Words cannot adequately express my appre­ ciation for his help. To my daughters, Jody and Jennifer, a warm thanks for their patience during the early mornings they awoke to the sound of my typewriter. Without the help of my loved ones, achieving this goal would never have been possible. Ill TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................... iii LIST OF TABLES........................................... vi Chapter I. INTRODUCTION AND PROBLEM .................... 1 Introduction ................................ 1 Problems Investigated by the Study .......... 4 Significance of the Problem................ 5 Statement of Hypotheses ................... 7 Definition of Terms ....................... 8 Assumptions ................................ 8 Limitations of Study ....................... 9 Overview of Subsequent Chapters .......... 9 II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE...................... 11 Introduction ................................ 11 Grade L e v e l ................................ 13 Demographic Characteristics .............. 17 Reading Interest and Sex Differences . . . . 18 Recording Students' Interest .............. 21 Basal Readers............................. 24 III. DESIGN AND PROCEDURES........................ 29 Setting and Subjects....................... 29 Reading Interest Inventory ................. 30 Administering Reading Interest Inventory . . 31 Selection of the Variables................. 33 Analysis of the Data....................... 33 IV. RESULTS OF DATA ANALYSIS...................... 37 Findings.................................... 37 Results.................................... 50 V. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS . . 58 Summary.................................... 58 Conclusions................................ 60 Recommendations ........................... 61 iv