Comments on: On “Research” and Summer Reading Programs

By: sally sue

sally sue — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 19:59:57 +0000

The study had good intentions. The biggest thing that surprised me is that it showed that the kids participating in summer reading programs have books in the home and a higher social-economic level than those not participating. Summer reading is supposed to target low income-low home literacy kids. I wish we were doing that, but that wasn’t true, at least not for the kids in this study.

By: Ann Perrigo

Ann Perrigo — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 23:52:08 +0000

I would like to see a definitive study with the thesis: Children who read during the summer months are more likely to maintain their reading level than children who do not read during the summer. In my mind summer reading programs are a means to an end–keep those kids reading and they will be more prepared for school in the fall. Would this research have greater potential? Why did it need to be tied to summer reading programs?

By: anonymous

anonymous — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:42:42 +0000

AL and the researchers both make the same fundamental mistake — trying to compare achievement scores between low SES and high SES readers and correlating the variance with a particular reading intervention. The real story is that summer reading programs may very well give high SES students additional advantage, and result in higher achievement scores than high SES students might otherwise achieve. This in itself would be valuable; we need to recognize that while we want to do what we can to pull up achievement scores for low achievers, we also want to provide every advantage to high achievers to assure they reach their potential. Think of summer reading programs not as equalizers but as part of an overall approach to assure that the gifted and talented are nurtured and not abandoned on the mantle of no child left behind.

By: Patty B

Patty B — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:53:29 +0000

My thoughts after reading this are curiosity about the cynical tone. I’m mystified by why you’re put off as much as you are by this so-called study.

Here’s a quote: “Even if we were to accept the validity of this study (which we shouldn’t), the claims that public library summer reading programs improve student reading ability are still dubious.”

It’s one thing to criticize the study — something I halfheartedly agree with. But it’s another to go so far as to almost claim that summer reading programs do NOT improve student reading. It is well supported by plenty of other studies — granted, not by this study, but it’s not a farfetched concept. You seem angry.

By: Real Librarian

Real Librarian — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:40:12 +0000

“Why only school or academic library?what about special libraries ?”

Special librarians are the ones who arrive at conferences in the short buses.

By: special librarian

special librarian — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:31:43 +0000

Why only school or academic library?what about special libraries ?

By: k.sol

k.sol — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:39:07 +0000

anonymous — while it’s not invalid to have a study with no results, it’s pretty questionable to make policy recommendations based on results that were not shown. I think summer reading is a great thing. I just don’t think this study proves it.

By: liberry

liberry — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:01:05 +0000

Thank you AL for pointing out the sloppy methodology here. It is similar to the studies trying to correlate the presence of a school library media specialist to increased reading scores. I find it tragic that these studies were done so poorly they hurt more than helped.

By: Real Librarian

Real Librarian — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:53:06 +0000

Peer reviewed?

So some cat loving, bun-wearing, spinster reading the paper and giving it her stamp of approval would make this “research” better?

And I thought the library profession didn’t have a sense of humor.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:45:56 +0000

I just wanted to point out that a study that has no findings or has negative findings is NOT scientifically invalid – that is the way science works.

Not that I disagree with your basic point that this particular study was a waste of taxpayer dollars. It was too small a sample and appears that they self-selected the results.

Actually, finding out that summer reading programs do anything or not is a good idea. Just don’t let librarians, or anyone else in education, conduct the study.