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Dissertation Information for Cherrell Victoria Robinson

NAME:
- Cherrell Victoria Robinson

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science

SCHOOL:
- University of Toronto (Canada) (1997)

ADVISORS:
- Adele Fasick

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- Ethel Auster
- Mavis Olive Cariou
- Carl Mark Corter

MPACT Status: Fully Complete

Title: The voluntary reading interests and habits of Jamaican sixth graders

Abstract: This study was undertaken to discover the voluntary reading interests and habits of sixth graders in public elementary schools in Jamaica. Its objectives were to: (1) identify the types of books Jamaican sixth graders were interested in reading; (2) ascertain their preference for books with Eurocentric or Afrocentric main characters; and (3) discover some of the children's reading habits including how much they like to read and their reasons for doing so. The specific variables examined were: sex, geographic location, academic and reading performance, race of main characters in books, why children read, how much they like to read, reading as a leisure time activity, hindrances to reading, sources of reading guidance and the availability of books. These were the predictor variables that were expected to affect the number of books read and the types of books preferred.

Four hundred and eighteen students, stratified by sex and geography, were randomly selected and surveyed via questionnaire and eight of whom were subsequently interviewed. Additional data were also collected about the students' academic performance and the state of their school libraries.

The general findings revealed that the Jamaican sixth graders' reading interests were nearly identical to those of their peers in developed countries. Sex, more than either geography or academic performance, was the most powerful determinant of reading interests and habits. Race too appeared to affect book choices, as most students preferred books with Afrocentric heroes. With regards to academic performance relative to reading interests and habits, few significant differences were observed across groups, except that the academically brighter students were more likely to read a greater number of books.

The majority of the children said they liked to read, mostly for utility rather than for pleasure. Reading ranked high as a pastime, especially for girls who also tended to read more books. Finally, children acquired their books from home and friends, rather from libraries, and turned to parents and peers for reading guidance instead of librarians who were ranked very low overall.

MPACT Scores for Cherrell Victoria Robinson

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:26:25

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Students under Cherrell Victoria Robinson

ADVISEES:
- None

COMMITTEESHIPS:
- None