Effects of training students to identify the semantic base of prose materials

J Appl Behav Anal. 1980 Winter;13(4):655-67. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1980.13-655.

Abstract

Feedback and feedback plus points toward a course grade were applied to the attentional behaviors (defined as the ability to identify the semantic base of text passages) of 30 undergraduate students participating in a reading comprehension development program. Correct underlining was increased, extraneous underlining was decreased, and postreading comprehension test scores improved as a result of the procedures. Scores on a standardized test of reading comprehension also increased significantly.