Doctoral Dissertations

Rebecca Turk

Date of Award

8-1996

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Major

Curriculum and Instruction

Major Professor

J. Estill Alexander

Committee Members

Lester Knight, Gary Purcell, Ted Hippie

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of capable adult readers who do not read for recreation. The eight participants worked professionally or attended college. They read in their professional positions, but most expressed concern that they read slowly or had some difficulty staying focused. They said they did not think of themselves as reading for recreation, and of the eight participants, five had not read a book in the last six months.

Data were collected from the eight participants by recorded interviews. The findings were that time is a serious limitation because of the demands of work, family, and other responsibilities. The participants had expectations that they would enjoy reading nonfiction. Most of the participants had a positive school experience and family support for learning to read.

A pattern of self-concepts and perceptions of recreation, pleasure, and work became apparent. The participants viewed themselves as hardworking and responsible. For these participants, the purpose of reading was to gain knowledge that could be used for work or other purposes. These beliefs helped determine what and when the participants chose to read.

The following conclusions were drawn from the data:

  1. The participants read more for recreation than they realized.
  2. The participants did not choose to read fiction or choose to read for escape.
  3. Some adults may not be comfortable taking time to read for recreation because of their value system.
  4. The participants had the skill and speed to read nonfiction. Some may not have had the speed or skill to be engaged fiction readers.
  5. As students slow their reading speed to understand difficult technical material, they may lose the ability to read at a speed that supports engaged reading if they do not develop the ability to change reading speed.
  6. Lack of time may be the most common reason these participants chose not to read for recreation.
  7. Adults who do not read books from cover to cover are not necessarily aliterate. They may choose shorter selections they can finish quickly.
  8. These adults received great pleasure from reading nonfiction, but they missed another level of pleasure because they did not experience engaged reading.

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