A developmental study of the speed of comprehension of printed sentences

Abstract

Simple printed sentences with a highly predictable word missing were presented to normal readers from Grades 1 through 11. The children had to say the missing word as rapidly as possible. Error rates were low enough that response latency could be assessed from Grade 2 on. There was a steady decrease in latency from the lower to the higher grades, and latency was highly correlated with the speed of oral reading of letters, words, nonsense syllables, and sentences. The results are discussed with regard to mechanisms underlying sentence comprehension. © 1977, The psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.