Running Head: Reading Comprehension: Reviving the Sentence Verification Technique

Abstract

Reading success is largely determined by reading comprehension. Thus accurate assessment of reading comprehension is necessary to identify those who require remediation and to plan future instructions in classrooms. Sentence verification technique (SVT) is one of the methods of assessing comprehension and can function as a diagnostic tool in reading assessment. The aim of the current study was to determine whether the SVT could detect gender and grade differences in reading comprehension. The study targeted 1091 elementary grade students comprising both boys and girls who were assessed using the SVT. The students read two text passages selected according to their grade level and responded to four sentence types - original, paraphrase, meaning change and distracter sentences. Independent sample t test highlighted that girls were significantly better than boys with regard to reading comprehension ability. One way analysis of variance to analyse grade differences indicated that there were significant improvements in reading comprehension ability with higher grades, thus highlighting the sensitivity of SVTs in detecting developmental changes in reading comprehension. The findings of this study emphasize the diagnostic potential of the SVTs with regard to identifying children with reading comprehension difficulties which in turn would help in planning their remediation. These SVTs can be easily developed by school teachers and other non-psychometricians for the purpoe of identifying students requiring assistance. The paper will discuss the finding, purpose and uses of SVT along with its classroom implications.