Reading abilities of business executives

Abstract

Training in silent reading skills was given to over 150 business executives. 1.5 hour meetings were held once a week for 10 consecutive weeks. Objective reading tests were given before and after the course was administered. Results showed an increase in reading speed (words per minute) correlated with initial reading rate (-.32). It was also found that increase in reading speed correlated -.41 with age. Some causes of slow reading are suggested as being: (1) carry-over from early childhood of oral reading habits, (2) over-cautious approach to printed matter because of fear of losing "something important," (3) difficulty in concentration and remembering, and (4) persistence of reading patterns related to particular job duties. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)