Author: Farah Bashir
Supervisor: Aisha Sitwat PhD, Sharmeen Tara
Degree: MS
Year: 2014-2016
University: Centre for Clinical Psychology, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan
Abstract
The present study explored the relationship between Urdu
fictional narrative and reading skills in school age children. It was
hypothesized that there is likely to be a positive relationship
between fictional narrative and reading skills. The relative
contribution of demographics variables and fictional narrative in
predicting reading skills of the students was also assessed. Sample
was selected through two stage sampling. The sample consisted of
sixty children i.e. N = 60 (Girls = 30; Boys = 30) taken from six
English Medium private schools of Muslim Town, Lahore,
Pakistan. Children of age 7-9 years were included in sample.
Twenty children were selected from each grade (first, second and
third grade). Solosson Intelligence Test and Personal Narrative
were used to screen out children for average or above average
intelligence and normal language respectively. Fictional narrative
was elicited through wordless story book and analyzed through
Story Grammar Analysis. Annual Status of Education Report
(Urdu literacy assessment) (ASER, 2015) was used to assess
reading skills. There was no significant correlation between
fictional narrative and reading skills. In addition, reading skills
showed a significant negative correlation with last birth order and
significant positive correlation with age. The results of Hierarchal
Regression suggested that neither demographic variables nor
fictional narrative significantly predicted reading skills. No
significant gender differences were found in narrative and reading
skills. Results of independent sample t-test indicated that children
who used to watch stories on tablet, computer or on other
electronic devices, listen stories at home and read stories by
themselves scored more on fictional narrative than children who
did not practice aforementioned activities.
Keywords: Urdu Fictional Narrative, Reading Skills in school.
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