Simple View of Reading: reading comprehension as the product of decoding and linguistic comprehension¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · 2 claims (1 for, 1 mixed) · 1 study (1 quant-synthesis), q3 · 1 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The Simple View of Reading is a theoretical model of reading comprehension that the review adopts as a core framework. It "presents reading comprehension as the product of decoding and linguistic comprehension skills and is formalized as the equation 'Decoding × Linguistic comprehension = Reading Comprehension.'" Within this model, linguistic comprehension is an important underpinning of reading comprehension beyond word-level reading, and becomes an essential predictor as decoding is mastered. The review uses it to motivate examining transfer from language instruction to reading outcomes.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Decoding skills must be considered alongside linguistic comprehension when predicting reading comprehension

Constraints¶

• The review notes that at older ages, when linguistic comprehension explains most variation in reading comprehension, reading comprehension is itself a highly stable construct

Target Learners¶

• preschool through secondary school children

Target Learning Objectives¶

• reading comprehension development
• linguistic comprehension

Claims¶

• Linguistic Comprehension Instruction No Immediate Reading Comprehension Effect [+M]
• Linguistic comprehension instruction shows a small immediate effect on generalized linguistic comprehension outcomes [~W]

Related Theories¶

• Linguistic Threshold Hypothesis versus Linguistic Interdependence Hypothesis for ELL reading comprehension
• Unitary language construct: vocabulary, grammar, and listening comprehension reflect a common language factor
• Simple View of Reading as the design basis for MAP Reading Fluency
• Simple View of Reading as the organizing framework for Spanish MAP Reading Fluency
• Simple View of Reading: comprehension as the product of word recognition and language comprehension

Examples¶

• Explicit Instruction: Decoding
• Explicit Systematic Phonics Instruction

Key Sources¶

• Rogde K, Hagen ÅM, Melby‐Lervåg M, Lervåg A. (2019). The effect of linguistic comprehension instruction on generalized language and reading comprehension skills: A systematic review. Campbell Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/cl2.1059