Research on Alphabetic Phonics

Alphabetic Phonics

Limited Evidence of Relative Effectiveness:

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Summary: Alphabetic Phonics has not been well-studied, therefore it is difficult to draw conclusions about its effectiveness, but it does have positive results in two older studies.

Alphabetic Phonics Research

Alphabetic Phonics is an Orton-Gillingham derived program. It is an older program which formed the basis for Take Flight (discussed on its own page). It is a lengthy program that includes phonics, PA, vocab, and reading comprehension instruction. It usually requires well over 100 hours of intervention. It appears to no longer be available for purchase.

Dooley (1994), studied MIRC: an adaptation of Alphabetic Phonics for middle school remedial reading students for one semester. The adaptation included reading comprehension components. Compared to a control group using a standard basal reading program, the MIRC students performed better than the controls in terms of word attack, reading rate, and various reading comprehension and writing metrics. The findings were statistically significant. No effect sizes were calculated, but the biggest differences in post-test scores were in reading rate and writing.  Kuveke 1996, did a small study. They found that a group of six students receiving the Alphabetic Phonics program made greater but mostly not statistically significant progress compared to controls. No effect sizes were calculated but after 2 years, intervention students had 3-7 month gains in auditory discrimination, phonics and word reading. Reading comprehension gains were 1-2 years and the only measures to reach statistical significance. 

My takeaway? The OG-based Alphabetic Phonics program has a good theoretical base, and it has some statistically significant results. This is promising. However, it is difficult to draw strong conclusions from two studies, especially when one of them only examined the results from 6 students. This is an older phonics program, and some of its components may not be well-aligned with newer Science of Reading research findings. Alphabetic Phonics formed the basis of what has now evolved into the Take Flight program (described on its own page). 

Research Studies:

Dooley, B. (1994). Multisensorially integrating reading and composition: Effects on achievement of remedial readers in middle school. Dissertation. Texas Woman's University. Google Scholar

Kuveke, S. H. (1996). Effecting Instructional Change: A Collaborative Approach. ERIC (pdf) | Google Scholar

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This Research Summary is a work in progress.

Leave me a comment if you know of other studies that I could include!