Reading preferences' analysis of Slovak younger learners

Babiaková, Simoneta, 1959- Reading preferences' analysis of Slovak younger learners / Simoneta Babiaková, Bronislava Kasáčová. -- The paper deals with the issue of reading enthusiasm of younger learners of 9-10 years of age. This study follows up on two studies presented at the ICERI 2018 in Seville, Spain, "Theoretical Scopes of Support for Younger School-age Learners" and "Reading Enthusiasm of Pupils at Elementary School from the Perspective of Pedagogical Research." The contemporary world involves several factors regarding children’s reading interest. We established a sequential theory on the levels of children's reading maturity based on the characteristics of the reader, the social context of children's readability, and reading preferences. These factors change in the context of time, social development, and cultural and social diversity. The aim of the paper is to present the results of qualitative research on the three factors of reading interest and find out the reading preferences of contemporary Slovak 9-10-year-old learners. In this study we present some results of the VEGA 1/0455/18 research project "Research and Development of Reading Enthusiasm with Younger School-Age Learners." In our research we first analyzed three features of reading enthusiasm. In the process of qualitative research pursued through interviews with learner focus groups we identified three features or factors: 1.) reader’s features, 2.) the social context of readability, and 3.) younger learners' reading preferences. In the second step of research we analyzed in detail the younger learners' reading preferences. The learners’ answers were analyzed qualitatively by way of categorization. We focused on the content, genres, and forms preferred by current Slovak children. These results were compared with the results from similar previous research projects. We identified several sequential grounded theories: 1. Slovak younger learners prefer to read fairy-tales and real-life stories (consistent with the previous research); 2. horror is becoming one of the most preferred genres (different from the previous research); 3. in the center of younger learners' interest are books with mysterious, eerie, and scary stories and stories with explicit resistance to authority; 4. children in contemporary Slovakia prefer especially foreign literature; 5. the image of the preferred literary hero of younger learners has changed.

In ICERI 2019 : 12th international conference of education, research and innovation, 11. - 13. 11. 2019, Seville, Spain : conference proceedings. -- Valencia : International association of technology, education and development (IATED), 2019. -- ISBN ISBN 978-84-09-14755-7. -- ISSN 2340-1095. -- S. 1356-1363

1. cultural and social contexts 2. čitatelia 3. záujmy žiakov 4. príspevky v zborníku

I. Kasáčová, Bronislava, 1959-
II. ICERI 2019 : 12th international conference of education, research and innovation, 11. - 13. 11. 2019, Seville, Spain conference proceedings. -- S. 1356-1363
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