Student trajectories related to reading and attention skills : is there evidence of the Matthew effect? / by Christine Gonzales.

Author/creator Gonzales, Christine author.
Other author Walcott, Christy M., degree supervisor.
Other author East Carolina University. Department of Psychology.
Format Theses and dissertations
Publication[Greenville, N.C.] : [East Carolina University], 2023.
Description1 online resource (62 pages) : illustrations (some color)
Supplemental ContentAccess via ScholarShip
Subjects

Summary Research on reading is widespread given its predictive nature for adult outcomes pertaining to success, such as high school graduation, college entrance, health literacy, employment status and wages earned. Research focusing on attention problems is also widespread, as attention has been found to be an integral part of the learning process. Previous research demonstrates that problems in reading and attention, individually, are associated with negative outcomes, and the prognosis for children who possess deficits in both areas is significantly worse. However, the relationship between reading and attention is complex and a myriad of studies have come to numerous conclusions regarding the relationship between reading and attention, depending both on the type of data and statistical analysis used for the study. Expanding on a previous study (Gonzales, 2019) which examined the unique growth trajectories regarding both attention and reading performance of students throughout elementary school, this study used data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS: K-2011), an updated and improved nationally, representative database containing both reading and attention measures for students from kindergarten through fifth grade. Consistent with previous research, initial reading scores were significantly predicted by SES, with scores being higher for those students from higher SES backgrounds. Similarly, girls had higher initial reading scores than boys. The findings indicated five unique growth trajectories with respect to reading and attention skills over the course of elementary school. These results remained consistent even after controlling for students' gender and SES. Reading performance for all groups improved over the course of elementary school. Attention, as rated by teachers, was much more variable with one group improving over time, another declining over time, and the other groups remaining relatively stable over the course of elementary school. There was a group that struggled both with reading and attentional skills throughout the course of elementary school, even though they were not the lowest rated class in regard to attention by the spring of fourth grade. Specifics regarding each of the five trajectories as well as implications for research and practice are discussed.
General notePresented to the Faculty of the Department of Psychology
General noteAdvisor: Christy M. Walcott
General noteTitle from PDF t.p. (viewed March 25, 2025).
Dissertation notePh.D. East Carolina University 2023.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references.
Technical detailsSystem requirements: Adobe Reader.
Technical detailsMode of access: World Wide Web.

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