Semantic and Phonological Ability to Adjust Recoding: A Unique Correlate of Word Reading Skill?

ABSTRACT

This study addresses whether reading involves a process termed semantic and phonological ability to adjust recoding (SPAAR). It was hypothesized that SPAAR helps readers link inaccurate pronunciations to lexical entries (e.g., spynitch to spinach). Psychometric properties of the Mispronunciation Correction Task (MCT), a measure of SPAAR, were investigated using a sample of 206 elementary-age children. The 25-item MCT appeared to measure a single construct, and the items discriminated well across the range of ability. Based on a sample of 94 children, construct validity analyses indicated that phonological awareness and decoding skill predicted MCT performance. Hierarchical regressions were used to test the relationship between SPAAR and word reading. After controlling for other skills, SPAAR showed a relationship with both timed and untimed word reading. Phonological awareness did not. These data suggest that SPAAR may be a reading-related ability involving phonological processing and some form of semantic processing.

Notes

¹ We chose to create a new term, “semantic and phonological ability to adjust recoding” (SPAAR) rather than using Gibson’s (1965) “set for variability.” We thought this useful because Gibson considered set for variability a conscious process, but we leave open the possibility that SPAAR is tacit. In addition, the polysemous word “set” has an ambiguous meaning in this context. We also thought it was easier to read and say SPAAR than either “set for variability” or its initialism, SFV.