Test-Taking Speed: Predictors and Implications

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 351-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin J. Lovett ◽  
Lawrence J. Lewandowski ◽  
Heather E. Potts
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Reading Fluency ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Testing Accommodations ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Task Completion ◽  
Extended Time ◽  
Test Taking ◽  
Comprehension Task ◽  
Self Reports

Students often feel time pressure when taking tests, and students with disabilities are sometimes given extended time testing accommodations, but little research has been done on the factors that affect students’ test-taking speed. In the present study, 253 students at two colleges completed measures of processing speed, reading fluency, and self-reports of their reading and test-taking skills, as well as a standardized paper-and-pencil reading comprehension task. The time taken to complete the reading comprehension task was not significantly related to students’ accuracy on the task, but it was predicted by students’ reading fluency and by their self-reports of problems with timed reading/test-taking. Students’ processing speed did not significantly predict comprehension task completion time or accuracy when reading fluency and self-reports were held constant. We discuss the implications of these and other results for making determinations about extended time testing accommodations, as well as for future research studies.

Sluggish Cognitive Tempo and Speed of Performance

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 684-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Whitney L. M. Wood ◽  
Heather E. Potts ◽  
Lawrence J. Lewandowski ◽  
Benjamin J. Lovett
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Reading Fluency ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Sluggish Cognitive Tempo ◽  
Academic Tasks ◽  
Speed Reading ◽  
Test Taking ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Cognitive Tempo

Objective: This study examined whether college students who reported higher levels of sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) symptoms were actually more “sluggish” in their performance while completing speeded cognitive and academic measures. Method: College students ( N = 253) completed self-reports of SCT and their reading and test-taking abilities as well as tests of processing speed, reading fluency, and reading comprehension. Results: Across all variables, SCT symptoms were most significantly associated with self-reported difficulty on timed reading tasks. However, students with high SCT scores were not significantly slower than controls on any of the timed tasks. Conclusion: In college students, self-reports of high SCT levels do not suggest actual slow performance on cognitive and academic tasks.

Predicting the Extended Time Use of College Students With Disabilities

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-290
Author(s):  
Laura M. Spenceley ◽  
Whitney L. M. Wood ◽  
Marisa Valentino ◽  
Lawrence J. Lewandowski
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Test Accommodations ◽  
Extended Time ◽  
Group Setting ◽  
Test Taking ◽  
Comprehension Task ◽  
College Students With Disabilities

This study investigated the extent to which standardized reading performance, individual perceptions of reading and test taking skills, and test anxiety predict the amount of extended time needed to equalize test access for college students with disabilities. Thirty-seven college students with a specific learning disorder (LD) and/or an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis who received university test accommodations were recruited to participate in this study, along with 37 controls. All participants individually completed standardized reading tests and rating scales, and a timed reading comprehension task in a group setting. Results indicated that participants receiving test accommodations utilized approximately 14% more time than control participants to complete the timed reading task. Regression analyses indicated that the differences in time required to complete the reading comprehension task were related to participants’ reading fluency and decoding, as well as perceptions of the strength of their reading and test taking skills.

scholarly journals Strategies identification in an experimental reading comprehension task

2010 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanda Stankovic ◽  
Dejan Lalovic
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Multiple Choice Questions ◽  
Psychological Practice ◽  
Test Taking ◽  
Comprehension Task ◽  
Comprehension Ability ◽  
Test Taking Strategies ◽  
Text Reading ◽  
Final Score ◽  
Ultimate Objective

Standardized reading comprehension tests (RCTs) usually consist of a small number of texts each accompanied by several multiple-choice questions, with texts and questions simultaneously presented. The score the common measure of reading comprehension ability in RCTs is the score. Literature review suggests that strategies subjects employ may influence their performance on RCT, however the score itself provides no information on the specific strategy employed. Knowledge of test-taking strategies could have impact on understanding of the actual purpose and benefits of using RCTs in pedagogical and psychological practice. With the ultimate objective of constructing a first standard RCT in Serbian language, the preliminary step we took was to conduct an experimental reading comprehension task (ERCT) consisting of 27 short texts displayed in succession, each followed by a single multiplechoice question. Using qualitative analysis of subjects? responses in semi-structured postexperimental interview, we identified four overall strategies used on ERCT. Our results show that groups of students who used specific strategies differed significantly from one another in text reading time, with no differences found regarding the question reading and answering time. More importantly, there were no significant between-group differences found in terms of ERCT score. These findings suggest that choice of strategy is a way to optimize the relation between one?s own potential and ERCT task requirements. RCT based on ERCT principles would allow for a flexible choice of strategy which would not influence the final score.

A-142 A Correlation between Reading Fluency and Processing Speed in a Child Population

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1195-1195
Author(s):  
Lara Rifai ◽  
Nisha Kajani ◽  
Kayla Kotalik ◽  
Ana Lopez ◽  
Lisa Lashley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Reading Fluency ◽  
Oral Reading ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Intellectual Ability ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Intelligence Scale ◽  
Reading Efficiency

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to determine whether a correlation exists between reading fluency in the WJ-IV ACH and processing speed in the WISC-V. Method The data for this study was derived from a large de-identified database. Participants (n = 90) included individuals who completed the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fifth Edition (WISC-V), which measures intellectual ability, and the Woodcock Johnson IV Tests of Achievement (WJ-IV ACH), which tests for reading, writing, and mathematic achievement. The participants consisted of 36.7% White, 20% Black, 31.1% Hispanic, and 12.2% Other. From the sample, 66.7% were male and 32.3% were female. All the participants were administered the WISC-V and WJ-IV ACH (mean age = 10.53, SD = 2.50; mean education = 4.6, SD = 2.47). Vocabulary was controlled for. Results The results indicated a significant correlation between the WJ-IV ACH Reading Fluency and the WISC-V Processing Speed Index r(87) = 0.326, p = 0.002. Conclusions Previous research has found that deficits in processing speed affect reading efficiency. Cognitive processes are affected even in children with ADHD who are able to decode words accurately. Processing speed, specifically Coding in the WISC-IV, was found to be significantly associated with verbal span and measures of working memory. Moreover, processing speed and working memory have been found to be significant predictors of oral reading fluency (Jacobson et al., 2011). The current findings confirm a correlation between processing speed and reading fluency in updated versions of the forementioned assessments. Future research should investigate the role of comorbid diagnosis found in the functioning of both processing speed and reading fluency.

The Effects of Text-to-Speech on Reading Outcomes for Secondary Students With Learning Disabilities

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Cece Young ◽  
Carrie Anna Courtad ◽  
Karen H. Douglas ◽  
Yun-Ching Chung
Keyword(s):  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Secondary Students ◽  
Reading Fluency ◽  
Oral Reading ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Students With Learning Disabilities ◽  
Text To Speech ◽  
Reading Outcomes

This study investigated the effectiveness of text-to-speech (TTS) on the outcomes of reading comprehension and oral reading fluency (ORF) for four secondary students with learning disabilities. The researchers used a single-case A–B–A–B withdrawal design to evaluate the effectiveness of TTS on reading outcomes. All participants scored higher on reading comprehension after using TTS when reading instructional passages and maintained the skills for 4 weeks. Results on participants’ ORF also indicated an increased level of words read per min at the end of each accommodation condition. Comparison of pre- and posttest achievement on the Lexile assessment showed that two of the four participants increased their reading scores. Major findings are discussed with implications for practice and recommendations for future research to increase the use of TTS in the classroom.

scholarly journals Can neuroscience help to understand narcissism? A systematic review of an emerging field

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuel Jauk ◽  
Philipp Kanske
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Interpersonal Functioning ◽  
Integrative Model ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Pathological Narcissism ◽  
Ego Threat ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
And Behavior

Abstract Narcissism is a Janusian personality construct, associated with both grandiose self-assuredness and dominance, as well as vulnerable insecurity and reactivity. Central questions of intra- and interpersonal functioning in narcissism are still a matter of debate. Neuroscience could help to understand the paradoxical patterns of experience and behavior beyond the limitations of self-reports. We provide a systematic review of 34 neuroscience studies on grandiose, vulnerable, pathological narcissism, and Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), spanning experimental investigations of intra- and interpersonal mechanisms, research on neurophysiological and neuroendocrine aspects of baseline function, and brain structural correlates. While neuroscience has scarcely directly studied vulnerable narcissism, grandiose narcissism is associated with heightened vigilance to ego threat and stress responses following ego threat, as well as heightened stress indicators in baseline measures. Such responses are not commonly observed in self-reports, highlighting the potential of neuroscience to augment our understanding of self-regulatory dynamics in narcissism. Interpersonal functioning is characterized by deficits in social–affective processes. Both involve altered activity within the salience network, pointing to a double dissociation regarding the expression of narcissism and self/other oriented situational focus. Findings are summarized in an integrative model providing testable hypotheses for future research along with methodological recommendations.

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