I. Desousa et J. Oakhill, DO LEVELS OF INTEREST HAVE AN EFFECT ON CHILDRENS COMPREHENSION MONITORING PERFORMANCE, British journal of educational psychology, 66, 1996, pp. 471-482
This study examines the effect of interest levels on the comprehension
monitoring ability of 8- and 9-year-old children. Two groups particip
ated in the study; they were matched for single-word reading and vocab
ulary skills, but differed in comprehension skill. Two tests were carr
ied out which required the children to read a number of brief passages
, some of which contained embedded problems. The children's task was t
o identify the problems. Test 2 was game-like in nature and the childr
en reported finding it more interesting than Test 1. Interest level wa
s found to affect test performance in the poor comprehenders' comprehe
nsion monitoring: a significant improvement in their performance was f
ound at high interest levels (Test 2). However, the performance of the
good comprehenders was independent of interest level. This study sugg
ests that the comprehension-monitoring deficit in the poor comprehende
rs is not irreversible, and is likely to be related to poor motivation
and low levels of interest. The implications for remedial education a
re discussed.