Individual differences in holistic word processing and the role of phonological processing in sentence comprehension

Background

Recent research has documented individual differences in the reading profiles of skilled native English readers using a behavioural marker of holistic visual word processing (orientation sensitivity). A more holistic word reading profile is associated with a weaker correlation with phonological decoding for word identification. Interestingly, that is different from typical patterns in skilled reading in English. The current study aimed to further assess the underlying distribution of orientation sensitivity as a continuous measure in an unrestricted undergraduate population and to extend past findings to understand the role of phonological decoding in reading comprehension as a function of orientation sensitivity.

Methods

A group of 137 SUNY New Paltz undergraduates completed an orientation sensitivity test to assess the overarching distribution. A subset of 55 SUNY New Paltz undergraduates completed additional reading-related tests (phonological decoding and reading comprehension) on an online platform (findingfive.com). The relationship between orientation sensitivity and reliance on phonological decoding on reading comprehension was assessed using regression.

Results

Results found that the distribution of orientation sensitivity was not normal and skews to the right, but is not bimodal, thus warranting the use of regression instead of group statistics. Lastly, those with relatively greater orientation sensitivity had a weaker relationship between measures of phonological decoding and a reading comprehension measure, as predicted.

Conclusions

The results extended the finding of differences in reliance on phonological decoding to reading comprehension as a function of orientation sensitivity. These results help refine our understanding of orientation sensitive readers and potential alternative route to successful reading found in the general population.