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Columbus State University

A Comparison of the Effect of the Language- Experience Approach and the Basal Approach on Reading Achievement

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>The purpose of the study was to examine and compare through objective literary research the effectiveness of the basal method versus the language experience method on reading achievement. The review of the literature covered a wide variety of sources including <strong>several</strong> books, journals, dissertations, and reports by professional organizations.</p> <p>Five questions were formulated to help guide the probe through the vast amount of literature and to narrow the scope and breadth of the research report. The questions asked about the significant differences of reading achievement by: (1) method of instruction, (2) socio-cultural background, (3) sex, (4) intelligence levels, and (5) whether language development was influenced by either method.</p> <p>From the study it could not be determined that either the basal or the language - experience approach is superior. Using either method students who come from culturally different backgrounds are differentially affected. However, most of these students benefit from a language experience approach. Also, thes culturally different students have little motivation to read if reading is not a high priority cultural trait.</p> <p>Within the United States girls tend to be better readers than boys, but the difference is not due to genetics or method of instruction, but is attributed to cultural phenomena that lie outside the classroom.</p> <p>The best way to positively influence language development is to model standard language in both written and oral forms regardless of the type of instructional method being used.</p> <p>Children of different intelligence levels are not differentially affected by method of instruction. But careful planning and guidance of instruction should be congruent to the stages of cognitive development at which the child is working.</p> <p>It is more desirable to use an eclectic approach to teach reading than to subscribe to any one method without being able to substantiate the method's claims for fulfilling the goals and objectives of the reading program.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Specialist in Education
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Teacher Education
Year
1982

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Copeland, Larry L.

Subjects

dc:subject × 8

Rights

Language dc:language
English

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:csuepress.columbusstate.edu:theses_dissertations-1591

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Columbus State University
Base URL
csuepress.columbusstate.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Copeland, Larry L.. A Comparison of the Effect of the Language- Experience Approach and the Basal Approach on Reading Achievement. Thesis thesis, 1982. https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/624