Implementation of a reading speed test in the TREE2 panel survey. TREE Technical Paper No. 3

Abstract

This paper focuses on the implementation and relevant measurement qualities of the bilingual, repeated reading speed test administered to the second TREE cohort (TREE2). Reading speed is a crucial factor for academic success and career trajectories, as it forms the basis for effective learning and information processing. It can also be used as a proxy measure of a person's general reading skills: A high reading speed indicates that an individual is able to extract information from texts rapidly and efficiently, while a low reading speed suggests a slower reading development. The inclusion of the test in the TREE2 panel survey hence provides a database allowing for longitudinal investigation of a wide range of interdependencies between the intra-individual development of an important facet of reading literacy, educational pathways, and the life course in general.

To this end, TREE has first developed an online version of the originally paper-based reading speed test which is equally suitable for smartphones, tablets and computers. By digitizing the pencil-and-paper instrument, we improve both test economy and reachability of the target population: Contrary to the original paper-and-pencil test, the adapted version may be applied outside of a classroom setting with a test administrator, thus greatly facilitating test administration and data collection. Second, we developed and implemented a French version of the test, allowing us to extend test ad-ministration to the French-speaking part of the sample. The French version also allows for comparative cross-language analysis of reading speed.

The publication of the test data in the 2023 TREE2 data release provides researchers with the opportunity to more comprehensively investigate the role of reading speed in educational and professional contexts and to gain new insights into its impact on individual and societal development.