The development of reading ability in school age children

This research represents an attempt to explain the development of reading skill. The variables included, visual encoding, phonological recoding, and semantic access, are three salient cognitive processes involved. General intellectual ability was also found to correlate highly with reading achievement.

Undoubtedly there are other factors involved in reading achievement , such as short-term memory and knowledge of syntax, as well as non-cognitive factors such as motivation and instruction method to name a few. A comprehensive research program aimed at discovering the nature of reading ability must ultimately include these other factors.

It is hoped that by analyzing these and other processes and determining the ways they interact, a better understanding of the complex nature of reading will ensue.