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Learning Vocabulary Through Reading

Jenkins, Joseph R., Stein, Marcy L., Wysocki, Katherine·1984·American Educational Research Journal

Abstract

This study examined the hypothesis that new vocabulary knowledge can be acquired through incidental learning of word meanings from context. Fifth graders of two reading abilities read passages containing unfamiliar words. Students were randomly assigned to different numbers of context presentations: 0, 2, 6, or 10 passages read over several days. Half of the unfamiliar words were informally taught before their appearance in the passages. Word meanings were learned from context, and more frequent presentation in context increased learning. Also, better readers profited more from context than did less skilled readers, and prior exposure (informal teaching) resulted in greater learning. Vocabulary effects were also observed on a measure of reading comprehension. Whether incidental learning accounts for vocabulary growth is discussed.

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Metadata

Authors
Jenkins, J. R., Stein, M. L., & Wysocki, K.
Venue
American Educational Research Journal
Published
1984
Volume
21
Issue
4
Pages
767
ISSN
0002-8312 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2152882873
Cited by
390
References
0
FWCI
6.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Learning Vocabulary Through Reading. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.2307/1163000
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Jenkins, J. R., Stein, M. L., & Wysocki, K. (1984). Learning Vocabulary Through Reading. American Educational Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.2307/1163000

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