The impact of spelling accuracy on reading speed orthographic quality: Error location, and type of error

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to replicate research demonstrating the relation between the quality of orthographic representations (as manifested by spelling accuracy) and reading speed. The impact of error location and consonant versus vowel errors was also evaluated. Seventy-eight participants (56 female; 22 male) with a mean age of 19.82 (SD = 2.32) participated in the study. Participants were given two standardized tests – the WJ-III and the TOWRE-2, as well as an experimental spelling task and an experimental reading task consisting of the same words. Results replicated prior studies in that the quality of orthographic representations, as indexed by spelling accuracy, was directly reflected in reading speed. Further, it was found that the location of the first spelling error within a word influenced the reading speed of that word but, there was no significant difference in reading time depending on the type of error (vowel or consonant based). In conclusion, and consistent with previous research, spelling accuracy plays an important role in reading speed on an individual word basis which can, in turn, influence the fluency of reading.