Allocation of attention during word recognition by good and poor readers

The current study investigated differences in allocation of attention between good and poor readers, using dual-task methodology. For 54 undergraduates classified as Good Readers and 54 classified as Poor Readers, based on their Nelson-Denny reading comprehension scores, significant main effects and interactions were found for word frequency, lexicality, and stimulus onset asynchrony, but no significant group differences (either in the form of main effects or interaction effects) were found between Good and Poor Readers. Possible explanations include task demands in the conditions and speed-accuracy trade-offs made by some subjects.