Explaining Individual Differences in Reading

Susan Brady is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Rhode Island. Her basic research focuses primarily on phonological factors in reading ability. In addition, in applied research she investigates the ingredients, such as teacher knowledge, necessary for improving reading achievement in the primary grades. David Braze, a linguist, concentrates his research on the cognitive bases underlying ability to comprehend speech and print. He employs online methods, including monitoring eye-movements during reading, to investigate bottlenecks in comprehension. Likewise, he explores how characteristics of text interact with individual differences in cognitive factors to impact reading comprehension.Carol Fowler is a Professor of Psychology at University of Connecticut. Her research includes an emphasis on the relation between speech production and perception, and the implications of that relation for phonological theory. One aspect of that research explores the nature of the phonological structures accessed by skilled readers of a variety of writing systems.The three editors are all Senior Scientists at Haskins Laboratories in New Haven, Connecticut.

• Foreword by William Tunmer. Preface. Part 1. Theoretical Foundations: Phonology and Reading. C.A. Fowler, How Theories of Phonology May Enhance Understanding of the Role of Phonology in Reading Development and Reading Disability. Part 2. Phonological Factors in Learning to Read. D. Braze, G.W. McRoberts, C. McDonough, Early Precursors of Reading-Relevant Phonological Skills. D.L. Share, On the Role of Phonology in Reading Acquisition: The Self-Teaching Hypothesis. S.A. Brady, Efficacy of Phonics Teaching for Reading Outcomes: Indications from Post NRP Research. N. Patton Terry, H. Scarborough, The Phonological Hypothesis as a Valuable Framework for Studying the Relation of Dialect Variation to Early Reading Skills. Part 3. Sources of Individual Differences Beyond Phonological Deficits . M.J. Snowling, Beyond Phonological Deficits: Sources of Individual Differences in Reading Disability. H.W. Catts, S. Adlof, Phonological and Other Language Deficits Associated with Dyslexia. C. Perfetti, Phonology is Critical in Reading -- But a Phonological Deficit is Not the Only Source of Low Reading Skill. Part 4. Unraveling the Biology of Reading and Reading Differences. B. Byrne, Evaluating the Role of Phonological Factors in Early Literacy Development: Insights from Experimental and Behavior-Genetic Studies. R. Olson, Genetic and Environmental Influences on Phonological Abilities and Reading Achievement. J.J. Diehl, S.J. Frost, W.E. Mencl, K.R. Pugh, Neuroimaging and the Phonological Deficit Hypothesis.

"... With a stellar cast of active, respected researchers providing the analyses, [this book] summarises the current status of empirical research into sources of individual differences in reading development. ... Each chapter includes mouth-watering hints about the future of research in various domains, alongside excellent and up-to-date summaries of recent investigations. The list of contributors is a who's who of empirical reading research, and their contributions form a marvelous series of perspectives." - Kerry Hempenstall, RMIT University, Australia, in the Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties"The contributors to this book provide the most appropriate tribute to Don Shankweiler, one of the giants of our field—a description of the cumulative and continuing impact of his seminal ideas. In this volume, the reader gets what would be expected from this All Star list of contributors: a comprehensive treatment of our understanding of individual differences in the development of reading ability with particular emphasis on the phonological deficit hypothesis." - Keith Stanovich, Ph.D., University of Toronto, Canada, author of Progress in Understanding Reading and winner of the 2010 Grawemeyer Award in Education"These chapters provide a brilliant overview of the last decade of research in reading. In addition, each chapter also provides a solid overview of the research base that has led to the current insights. It is an excellent book precisely in the spirit of one of the most creative, knowledgeable and persistent minds in reading research." - Carston Elbro, Ph.D., University of Copenhagen, Denmark"This volume contains an excellent set of cutting-edge chapters on the interface between reading and language development. The contributors are truly an all-star cast. As well as covering the central role of phonological skills for reading development, work on broader oral language skills is also included. The coverage is broadened further by including recent work on genetic and neuroimaging studies. This is an excellent book, and a fitting tribute to the contribution made by Donald Shankweiler to the study of reading development and reading disorders." - Charles Hulme, Ph.D., University of York, United Kingdom"Don’t miss this brilliantly crafted and long awaited contribution to the field by leading scientists in honor of Donald Shankweiler, who, with colleagues at Haskins Laboratories, developed the phonological deficit hypothesis that spawned decades of landmark research in multiple disciplines and numerous languages. A must-read for graduate students and researchers!" - Benita A. Blachman, Ph.D., Trustee Professor of Education and Psychology, Syracuse University, USA