Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the amount and nature of children's voluntary reading of books and periodicals at ages 10, 12 and 14. The main variables collected were the names and authors of the books read voluntarily by children in the sample during a four week period.

Main Topics:

Attitudinal/Behavioural Questions 1. Children's Questionnaire Number and type of periodicals read regularly, number and type of books read during previous 4 weeks, books owned by child, child's favourite author/books/periodicals. Frequency of visits to public library, type of newspaper taken by parents regularly. Type of television programmes watched regularly, previous evening's viewing. Child's perception of own reading, child's liking of school/English lessons. Parent's membership of public library. 2. Primary School Questionnaire Type of timetable and organisation, number of hours spent reading to class. Access to library, whether books available for borrowing. 3. Secondary School Questionnaire Access to library, type of library, number of books in library, objectives of English teaching. Type of organisation and streaming in school. Background Variables 1. Children's Questionnaire Television ownership, whether child living with parents, whether mother working. 2. Primary School Questionnaire Area of school, book/pupil ratio. 3. Secondary School Questionnaire Sex, marital status, number of years teaching experience of Head of English Department, type of site of school, area of school, book/pupil ratio.

One-stage stratified or systematic random sample

Postal survey