The role of reading as a life activity in a rural community

Abstract

94 subjects above 9 years of age, selected from a western rural community of about 1000 people, according to age, sex, and location, were tested for (1) stated interests in reading and other activities, measured by preferential rating scales; (2) amount and types of reading and other activities, measured by records of the local library, activity charts for one day kept by each subject, and a check list of movies seen; and (3) abilities, measured by the Pressey Diagnostic Reading Tests, Grades 3-9, and the Otis Group Intelligence Tests. Among the findings are the following: Reading is preferred above other leisure time activities at all ages. There are marked shifts with age in the interest value of various reading topics; interest in governmental and religious topics, for example, increases with age. The quality of shows attended and of books taken from the library increases with age. Scores for intelligence, reading rate, and reading comprehension are highest for the age group 15-24 and decrease markedly with age. Vocabulary scores decrease much less with age. There is a correlation of .47 between reading comprehension and quality of reading. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)