An iterative case-study approach was used in this investigation of reading processes used by mature experienced readers. Six retired schoolteachers (aged 55 plus) were interviewed to obtain comprehensive data on their reading interests, attitudes, and life long reading habits. A combination of modified cloze and guided introspection procedures were used to examine the reading behaviours exhibited across multiple and varied texts. / Scoring procedures were developed which considered sentence, partial text, and whole text level acceptability of modified cloze responses. As well, a framework which considered whether responses were mainly text-based or knowledge-based was developed for analyzing the guided introspection data. / Results indicated that although attitudes towards reading were constant across total lifespan, reasons for reading and reading interests changed. Differences in processes used to comprehend text were apparent across both subjects and texts. Subjects exhibited similar sentence and partial text scores, but whole text level scores differed. Guided introspection protocols indicated mainly interactive response processing rather than either text-based or knowledge-based processing. Mode of processing changed across texts depending on reader interest in text topics. / Results indicated the value of the iterative case-study design for obtaining intensive data on reading processes. As well, the procedures developed for collecting and analyzing data were useful for examining how readers construct and reconstruct meaning as they read.

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This study addresses the problem of reading among older adults and the relation of such reading to their sense of life satisfaction. The study also considers the relation between reading interests and activity of older adults and the availability to them of library materials and services.

A group of 101 older adults (sixty-five years of age and over) who lived independently in three retirement apartment residences in Denton, Texas, were asked about their patterns of reading, television viewing, and radio listening habits for two periods in their lives: (1) at age forty to fifty-five and (2) at the present. Respondents were asked about their use of external information sources (public library, grocery store, newsstand, etc.) and their use of proximate information sources (radio, friends/relatives, television, etc.) They were also asked about access to transportation, income satisfaction, status of general health, vision, hearing, physical mobility and reasons for utilizing various information sources. Four hypotheses relating changes in health, environment, economic status, and education to reasons for reading and use of information sources were tested through the use of t-tests, regression analysis and analysis of variance. Within this group of older adults, use of external information sources decreased from the past to the present. There was, however, no change in the use of information sources located in or near the residence as difficulties in these areas increased. A relationship was found between educational level and reading for pleasure earlier in life. Also, those with higher educational levels reported fewer differences in their reasons for reading in the present and in the past.