A Summary of Reading Investigations Among Negro College Students, 1940-1954

EXAMINATION of the literature in the field of reading shows that there has been an immense number of investigations of the reading ability of elementary school children. Considerable study has also been made of the reading ability of high school pupils. More recently, investigations in the field of college reading have received increased attention. However, of the studies reported, few deal with the reading abilities, problems, and needs of Negro college students. For the most part, studies dealing with reading at the college level refle c t the rapid interest in corrective reading and remedial teaching. Many of the studies listed by Gray in his summaries of reading investigations are based on data other than that revealed by reading tests. In fact, according to Gray, only a limited number of studies relating to reading tests was reported be tween July 1, 1952 and June 30, 1953. It would appear, therefore, thatthere is need for more adequate test data on the reading abilities of college students, particularly those enrolled in colleges and universities for Negroes. It is hoped that this summary of reading investigations will contribute to the need for such test data and stimulate further study and analysis of the r e a ding per formance of Negro college students.