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Measuring and Predicting Graded Reader Difficulty

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Title: Measuring and Predicting Graded Reader Difficulty
Language: English
Authors: Holster, Trevor A., Lake, J. W., Pellowe, William R.
Source: Reading in a Foreign Language. Oct 2017 29(2):218-244.
Availability: Reading in a Foreign Language. National Foreign Language Resource Center, 1859 East-West Road #106, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822. e-mail: readfl@hawaii.edu; Web site: http://nflrc.hawaii.edu/rfl/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 27
Publication Date: 2017
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Descriptors: Basal Reading, Difficulty Level, Books, Surveys, Sentences, Word Frequency, Predictor Variables, Student Attitudes, Readability, Foreign Countries, College Students, English (Second Language)
Geographic Terms: Japan
ISSN: 1539-0578
Abstract: This study used many-faceted Rasch measurement to investigate the difficulty of graded readers using a 3-item survey. Book difficulty was compared with Kyoto Level, Yomiyasusa Level, Lexile Level, book length, mean sentence length, and mean word frequency. Word frequency and Kyoto Level were found to be ineffective in predicting students' perceptions of book difficulty. Book length was found to be highly predictive of perceived book difficulty, with the Yomiyasusa Levels predicting 68% of variance, while the Lexile measure of mean sentence length was moderately predictive, with 40% of variance explained. These results show that current headword levelling of graded readers is ineffective and that publishers' book levels do not provide useful guidance in selection of books to read. It is therefore recommended that students use book length as their primary consideration in choosing books and that reading recommendations and purchasing decisions be based on Yomiyasusa Levels rather than publishers' levels.
Abstractor: As Provided
Number of References: 39
Entry Date: 2017
Accession Number: EJ1157535
Database: ERIC
FullText Links:
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  Data: Measuring and Predicting Graded Reader Difficulty
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Reading+in+a+Foreign+Language%22"><i>Reading in a Foreign Language</i></searchLink>. Oct 2017 29(2):218-244.
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  Data: Reading in a Foreign Language. National Foreign Language Resource Center, 1859 East-West Road #106, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822. e-mail: readfl@hawaii.edu; Web site: http://nflrc.hawaii.edu/rfl/
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Basal+Reading%22">Basal Reading</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Difficulty+Level%22">Difficulty Level</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Books%22">Books</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Surveys%22">Surveys</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sentences%22">Sentences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Word+Frequency%22">Word Frequency</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Predictor+Variables%22">Predictor Variables</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Readability%22">Readability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+%28Second+Language%29%22">English (Second Language)</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This study used many-faceted Rasch measurement to investigate the difficulty of graded readers using a 3-item survey. Book difficulty was compared with Kyoto Level, Yomiyasusa Level, Lexile Level, book length, mean sentence length, and mean word frequency. Word frequency and Kyoto Level were found to be ineffective in predicting students' perceptions of book difficulty. Book length was found to be highly predictive of perceived book difficulty, with the Yomiyasusa Levels predicting 68% of variance, while the Lexile measure of mean sentence length was moderately predictive, with 40% of variance explained. These results show that current headword levelling of graded readers is ineffective and that publishers' book levels do not provide useful guidance in selection of books to read. It is therefore recommended that students use book length as their primary consideration in choosing books and that reading recommendations and purchasing decisions be based on Yomiyasusa Levels rather than publishers' levels.
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 27
        StartPage: 218
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Basal Reading
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Difficulty Level
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Books
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Surveys
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sentences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Word Frequency
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Predictor Variables
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Readability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: English (Second Language)
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      – SubjectFull: Japan
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      – TitleFull: Measuring and Predicting Graded Reader Difficulty
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              M: 10
              Type: published
              Y: 2017
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