Role of Vocabulary for Reading Comprehension Skills

Abstract The present study explored the relationship of the WISC-III Vocabulary measure with the skills of word reading and reading comprehension in 174 children enrolled in the 3rd and 4th grades of Elementary School. Evidence of prediction of vocabulary in reading comprehension was identified, even after controlling for word reading, phonological awareness, short-term memory, and morphological awareness. The same was not found for the skill of word reading. The results indicate that the WISC-III vocabulary relates to reading skills, but has a predictive role only in text comprehension. These findings are discussed in light of the Simple Reading Model theory and the Lexical Quality Hypothesis.