Reading Interest Congruence Between High Interest/Low Level Published Materials and Reading Interests of Students in an Alternative Junior High School

Abstract

Problem. The purpose of this study was to determine if the content of high interest/low level published reading materials were congruent with the topical reading interests of the students enrolled in an alternative school. Procedure. To determine the reading interests, an inventory was administered. Data were tabulated for population on a percentage table. Data reqarding the topical reading interests of four high interest/low level published reading series were gathered. Results of this evaluation were tabulated on a percentage table. Comparison of the two tables disclosed the congruence and lack of congruence between the students' expressed reading interests and the reading interest content of the text. Analysis of the data was presented in the form of textular discussion. Findings. It was found that the content of each series was not 100 percent congruent with each of the top ten reading interests of the students. It was found that when the four series were combined congruence did exist. Conclusions. It was concluded that a single high interest/low level reading series will not satisfy all of the reading interest needs of a similar group of students. Recommendations. It is recommended that in classes of similar kinds, multiple high interest/low level reading series be used.