CHAPTER 3
 METHODS


 Introduction

 The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of various variables

including phonological awareness, rapid-naming, and visual skills on the reading levels

of early elementary students. In addition, this study investigated how these variables are

interrelated to their reading levels. In Chapter 3, the research methods of the study are

described including the participants, research instruments, data collection procedures, and

methods of data analysis employed by this study.

Research Questions

 Three research questions were investigated (Table 3-1).

Table 3-1. Research Questions
 Research Questions
Question 1 Is the combination of phonological awareness, rapid-naming, eye-
 movement/orthographic skills and visual perception skills significantly
 associated with the level of reading fluency?

Question 2 Among phonological awareness, rapid-naming, eye-
 movement/orthographic skills and eye-movement/orthographic skills,
 what is the most strongly correlated with the level of reading fluency?

Question 3 Among phonological awareness, rapid-naming, eye-
 movement/orthographic skills and visual perception skills what latent
 variables should be included in this reading fluency model?