Hit: Do standardized test scores improve when using the ARP?

[Laura Reeb <lreeb@JUNO.COM>]

There were many requests to post a hit.  Here is the original question:

I'm looking on the Internet for studies/research on using the Accelerated
Reader Program to find out if there is any correlation between using AR
and improved standardized test scores.  I've looked through the archives,
as well as searching the web (using AltaVista, Infoseek, Webcrawler) with
not much luck.  I did find MANY school web sites that talk about their AR
program, and one person said they based their decision to start AR on two
studies - The National Reading Study, and the National Study of
Literature Based Reading.  Does anyone know if these studies, or others
like it, can be found on the Web?

Thank you for your help - Sandy, Beth, Michele, Judy, Anne, Mary Ann,
Susan, and Tyna!

--------------
The research is by the AR people.

Reading helps scores.  AR helps but no specific studies.  No direct
correlations.

Colorado did a study on library media centers at schools and successful
test
scores.

The number one predictor is the library media center at the school
staffed
by a credentialed LM specialists.  Not the number of teachers with MA's
or
number of AP classses.

Check with S. Krashen.

-------------
This Spring the reading teachers in my building tried to find studies
that
showed AR worked and couldn't.  They did locate studies that said there
was
no difference between groups that used AR and groups that didn't.  If you

find a postive study be sure to see if it was sponsored by AR.

-------------
Our district uses AR district wide and it seems to greatly improve
reading
scores.  I'm having a difficult time w/ our program @ my school, because
my
middle school students hate to read, so next year my goal is to get
everyone
on AR.

-------------
       I wouldn't wonder that AR would NOT improve reading scores.
Because
students read not for the love of reading!!
        Have you read any of the research that says AR may be damaging to
students' long term reading???

-------------
Have you tried the AR listserv on their site:

http://www.advlearn.com/acceleratedreader/aroverview.htm

Maybe if you go through their archives you might hit upon something
useful. Hope this helps.

-------------
I checked dissertation abstracts (http://www.umi.com or UT library will
have subscription)  recently and found two abstracts of dissertations
written in the last year or so on computerized reading programs. One
examined AR and the other Electronic Bookshelf. I think one was from
Florida and I know the other was done at UNT. If you can quote from
abstracts or want to pay to download, you should find these helpful. If
I recall correctly the abstracts indicated in both cases no significant
difference in learning between computerized reading programs and other
programs involving the same reading. Probably in the conclusions they
will point out that many schools offer either AR or nothing, thus
building a case for AR. Empirically, we use AR at my school and I know I
am stuck with it because scores do keep going up. Teachers are just too
busy to run manual alternatives.

-------------
Beware of those 2 studies.  They are funded by the AR company.

If you are a member of AASL, then the spring edition of their
publication,
Knowledge Quest, is devoted to reading programs and incentives.  One
article even does a comparison of AR, Electronic Bookshelf (Reading
Counts), That's A Fact, Jack and BookSharp.

-------------
Call Advantage Learning Co.  They will FAX you all you need.  Sorry I
don't
have the number here at home.  It is on all the catalogs.  Good luck.
------------

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