Does "pure" phonemic awareness training affect reading comprehension?

Percept Mot Skills. 2001 Oct;93(2):356-8. doi: 10.2466/pms.2001.93.2.356.

Abstract

The six studies found concerning the effect of pure phonemic awareness training (without phonics) on reading comprehension gave a positive but modest overall effect size in favor of phonemic awareness training. Four studies had small samples, two showed no or very small effect sizes, and one inconsistent results. Three involved languages other than English. Such results do not support the popular movement for universal phonemic awareness training.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

  • Awareness*
  • Child
  • Concept Formation*
  • Humans
  • Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care
  • Phonetics*
  • Reading*