Self‐correction Rates in Oral Reading: indices of efficient reading or artefact of text difficulty?

Abstract

Significant differences in self‐correction rates between good and poor readers are a well‐established finding. However, previous research has failed to control text difficulty. Self‐correction rates among good and poor readers were compared in a reading level design which controlled text difficulty. No significant differences were found between the groups when reading identical passages at equivalent error rates. Furthermore, self‐correction rates correlated with reading accuracy but not with reading comprehension. It is argued that prior reports of significant differences in self‐correction rates between good and poor readers do not substantiate the claim that self‐correction behaviours tap factors that play a causal role in promoting reading acquisition.