Attitudes and Attainment A Comparison of Hong Kong, Singaporean and English Students' Reading

• Published in: Research in education (Manchester) Vol. 76; no. 1; pp. 74 - 87
• Main Authors: Tse, Shek Kam, Lam, Raymond Y. J., Lam, Joseph W. I., Chan, Yiu Man, Loh, Elizabeth K. Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.11.2006; Manchester University Press; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Alphabet; Attitudes; Children; China; Chinese languages; Comparative analysis; Comparative Education; Comparative linguistics; Cross Cultural Studies; Cuneiform script; Developmental psychology; Educational Attainment; Elementary Education; Elementary School Students; England; English language; Foreign Countries; Gender Differences; Hong Kong; Leisure; Reading; Reading Ability; Reading Achievement; Reading Attitudes; Reading processes; Recreation; Singapore; Statistical Surveys; Student attitudes; Young Children; Hong Kong; United Kingdom (England); Singapore; England; Hong Kong China; United Kingdom > UK; China
• ISSN: 0034-5237; 2050-4608
• DOI: 10.7227/RIE.76.7

The study examines the reading attitudes and attainment of Hong Kong, Singapore and English primary-school students using data collected in the PIRLS 2001 international reading survey. A total of 13,486 students aged 9-10 years were assessed. Singaporean students were found to have more positive reading attitudes and confidence than Hong Kong and English students, but English students had superior overall reading ability. Significant gender differences were found, with girls across the three cultural groups consistently outscoring boys in terms of both reading attitudes and attainment.