Authors: Justice LM, Ezell HK
Title: Use of storybook reading to increase print awareness in at-risk children
Source: American Journal of Speech Language Pathology 2002 11(1): 17-29
Year: 2002
Research Design: Randomised Controlled Trial
Rating Score: 05/10
This rating is confirmed
Eligibility specified - Y
Random allocation - Y
Concealed allocation - N
Baseline comparability - N
Blind subjects - N
Blind therapists - N
Blind assessors - N
Adequate follow-up - Y
Intention-to-treat analysis - Y
Between-group comparisons - Y
Point estimates and variability - Y
Abstract:

This study evaluated the impact of participation in book-reading sessions with a print focus on print awareness in preschool children from low income households. A book-reading intervention was conducted for 30 children enrolled in Head Start. Children were matched on chronological age and then randomly placed into an experimental or control group. Pretest measures of children's print awareness were administered. Subsequently, children in both groups participated in 24 small-group reading sessions over an 8-wk period. Children in the experimental group participated in shared reading sessions that included a print focus. As an alternate condition control-group children participated in shared reading sessions with a picture focus. Posttesting indicated that children who participated in print focus reading sessions outperformed their control group peers on three measures of print awareness (Words in Print, Print Recognition, and Alphabet Knowledge) and in terms of overall performance. Clinical implications and future research directions are discussed.
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