Are There any Matthew Effects in Literacy and Cognitive Development?

Abstract

The Matthew effect is often used as a metaphor to describe a widening gap between good and poor readers over time. In this study we examined the development of individual differences in reading and cognitive functioning in children with reading difficulties and normal readers from Grades 1 to 3. Matthew effects were observed for individual differences in reading comprehension and vocabulary, but not on tests measuring word decoding, word recognition, or spelling, nor on non‐verbal ability. However, these Matthew effects disappeared when controlling for home literacy activities and parent reading behavior, indicating that print exposure is one environmental condition involved in mediating Matthew effects. These findings are in line with the idea of the Matthew effect by Stanovich and the core assumption that reading comprehension is involved in a reciprocal relationship with vocabulary knowledge.

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