Date Approved

5-1-2001

Embargo Period

6-2-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in School and Public Librarianship

Department

Special Educational Services/Instruction

College

College of Education

Advisor

Shontz, Marilyn

Subject(s)

Instructional materials centers; Reading; School children--Attitudes; Seventh grade (Education); Sixth grade (Education)

Disciplines

Library and Information Science

Abstract

The purpose of this experimental study was to determine if attitudes towards reading changed when the Accelerated Reader program was implemented. The study involved six classes of sixth and seventh graders in a six-week period and used a pretest/posttest design to measure changes in attitudes towards reading. A total of 128 students were given permission slips, however only 50 students returned them. These fifty participants completed a reading attitudes survey at the beginning and conclusion of the study. The participants also answered a worksheet with questions about the book that they chose to read. Finally, the students completed reading comprehension quizzes through the Accelerated Reader program. Data analysis was achieved through tallying survey results and comparing three categories: sex, grade level and if a student was at-risk. Totals and percentages were computed on tables and figures using Microsoft Excel. Accelerated Reader proved to be useful in student motivation in reading. Approximately two-thirds of the participants' results affirmed the fact that the Accelerated Reader program was useful in fostering reading motivation.

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