The Science of Reading: A Handbook - Overview of reading research and future trends

Sep 16, 2026

The Science of Reading: A Handbook edited by Margaret J. Snowling and Charles Hulme provides an authoritative synthesis of classic research, current findings, and future directions in developmental psychology with a focused emphasis on reading. The handbook brings together 25–30 newly commissioned chapters authored by an international expert team, each contextualized by leading figures for coherence and scholarly authority. It is designed for advanced students and researchers, covering word recognition, learning to read and spell, comprehension, reading across languages, and disorders of reading and spelling.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages680

Reading Time3 h 58 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

List of Contributors

Preface

Acknowledgments

Part I: Word Recognition Processes in Reading

Editorial Part I

1 Modeling Reading: The Dual-Route Approach

2 Connectionist Approaches to Reading

3 Visual Word Recognition: Theories and Findings

4 The Question of Phonology and Reading

5 Eye Movements During Reading

Part II: Learning to Read and Spell

Editorial Part II

6 Theories of Learning to Read

7 Writing Systems and Spelling Development

8 Development of Sight Word Reading: Phases and Findings

9 Predicting Individual Differences in Learning to Read

10 Social Correlates of Emergent Literacy

11 Literacy and Cognitive Change

Part III: Reading Comprehension

Editorial Part III

12 Comprehension

13 The Acquisition of Reading Comprehension Skill

14 Children’s Reading Comprehension Difficulties

Part IV: Reading in Different Languages

Editorial Part IV

15 Orthographic Systems and Skilled Word Recognition Processes in Reading

16 Early Reading Development in European Orthographies

17 Learning to Read in Chinese

18 The Nature and Causes of Dyslexia in Different Languages

Part V: Disorders of Reading and Spelling

Editorial Part V

19 Developmental Dyslexia

20 Learning to Read with a Hearing Impairment

21 Learning to Read with a Language Impairment

22 Acquired Disorders of Reading

23 Spelling Disorders

The Science of Reading: A Handbook Edited by Margaret J. Snowling and Charles Hulme The Science of Reading: A Handbook Blackwell Handbooks of Developmental Psychology This outstanding series of handbooks provides a cutting-edge overview of classic research, current research and future trends in developmental psychology. • Each handbook draws together 25–30 newly commissioned chapters to provide a comprehensive overview of a subdiscipline of developmental psychology. • The international team of contributors to each handbook has been specially chosen for its expertise and knowledge of each ﬁeld. • Each handbook is introduced and contextualized by leading ﬁgures in the ﬁeld, lending coherence and authority to each volume. The Blackwell Handbooks of Developmental Psychology will provide an invaluable overview for advanced students of developmental psychology and for researchers as an authoritative deﬁnition of their chosen ﬁeld. Published Blackwell Handbook of Infant Development Edited by Gavin Bremner and Alan Fogel Blackwell Handbook of Childhood Social Development Edited by Peter K. Smith and Craig H. Hart Blackwell Handbook of Childhood Cognitive Development Edited by Usha Goswami Blackwell Handbook of Adolescence Edited by Gerald R. Adams and Michael D. Berzonsky The Science of Reading: A Handbook Edited by Margaret J. Snowling and Charles Hulme Forthcoming Blackwell Handbook of Early Childhood Development Edited by Kathleen McCartney and Deborah A. Phillips The Science of Reading: A Handbook Edited by Margaret J. Snowling and Charles Hulme © 2005 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd except for editorial material and organization © 2005 by Margaret J. Snowling and Charles Hulme BLACKWELL PUBLISHING 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148-5020, USA 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2DQ, UK 550 Swanston Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia The right of Margaret J. Snowling and Charles Hulme to be identiﬁed as the Authors of the Editorial Material in this Work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher. First published 2005 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd 1 2005 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data The science of reading : a handbook / edited by Margaret J. Snowling and Charles Hulme. [p. cm](p. cm).—(Blackwell handbooks of developmental psychology) Includes bibliographical references and indexes. ISBN 13: 978-1-4051-1488-2 (alk. paper) ISBN-10: 1-4051-1488-6 (alk. paper) 1. Reading. 2. Reading—Research. 3. Reading, Psychology of. I. Snowling, Margaret J. II. Hulme, Charles. III. Series. LB1050.S365 2005 428.4—dc22 2005001421 A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library. Set in 10.5 on 12.5 pt Adobe Garamond by SNP Best-set Typesetter Ltd., Hong Kong Printed and bound in the United Kingdom by TJ International, Padstow, Cornwall The publisher’s policy is to use permanent paper from mills that operate a sustainable forestry policy, and which has been manufactured from pulp processed using acid-free and elementary chlorine-free practices. Furthermore, the publisher ensures that the text paper and cover board used have met acceptable environmental accreditation standards. For further information on Blackwell Publishing, visit our website: [www.blackwellpublishing.com](www.blackwellpublishing.com) Contents List of Contributors viii Preface xiii Acknowledgments xv Part I: Word Recognition Processes in Reading 1 Editorial Part I 3 1 Modeling Reading: The Dual-Route Approach 6 Max Coltheart 2 Connectionist Approaches to Reading 24 David C. Plau

FAQs

What is the main purpose of The Science of Reading: A Handbook?

It provides a cutting-edge overview of classic and current reading research, along with future trends, organized within developmental psychology.

How is the handbook structured across reading-related topics?

It is divided into major parts covering word recognition, learning to read and spell, reading comprehension, reading in different languages, and disorders of reading and spelling.

Who is the handbook intended for?

Advanced students of developmental psychology and researchers, serving as an authoritative definition of the chosen field.

Sep 16, 2026

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