Validation of the International Reading Speed Texts in a Canadian Sample
Purpose: The purpose of these studies are (1) to validate the IReST in an English-speaking Canadian sample; and (2) examine how reading comprehension questions and reduced visual acuity effect reading speed on the IReST.Materials & Methods: Study 1: Canadian English speakers (n=25) read all 10 IReST following the procedures used in the original IReST validation. Study 2: Canadian English speakers (n=50) read all 10 IReST, half with normal/corrected-to-normal vision and half with reduced visual acuity, and were asked reading comprehension questions.Results: No significant differences were found between Canadian sample and the published IReST values (in all cases p>.05, Mdiff=[-5.30,11.43], Cohen’s d=[-.15, .27], Bayes Factors=[0.41,0.09]). Assessing reading comprehension with multiple choice questions on the IReST significantly reduced reading speeds in the normal vision condition (Mdiff=25.3, 95% CI=[-16.7,-34.1]) and in the simulated impairment condition (Mdiff=59.3, 95% CI [-47.7,-71]).Conclusions: The IReST is a valid measure that can be used to assess reading speed in a Canadian English speaking sample. If researchers/clinicians wish to assess both reading speed and comprehension, using multiple choice reading comprehension questions, then the values provided by the IReST will likely overestimate an individual’s true reading speed in individuals with normal/corrected-to-normal vision and reduced visual acuity.