Understanding Individual Differences in Literacy Development

Our research on individual differences in literacy development identifies learner characteristics and developmental processes that shape students’ literacy outcomes. This work examines how domains within and related to reading, such as language proficiency, self-regulation, motivation, and anxiety, influence reading development across diverse learner populations. We focus particularly on understanding variation in literacy development among English learners and students with identified or emerging reading difficulties, with the goal of clarifying how instructional needs differ across students and contexts. Findings from this line of research guide the development of more precise, responsive interventions designed to better address individual learner needs and support equitable literacy outcomes. 

Select Publications on Individual Differences:

Hogan, E., Vaughn, S., Fall, A.-M., Capin, P., Miciak, J., & Roberts, G. (2024). Does the effectiveness of a reading intervention differ dependent on students’ Spanish or English proficiencies? 116. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2024.102546 (Original work published 2024)
Hogan, E., Vaughn, S., Fall, A.-M., Capin, P., Miciak, J., & Roberts, G. (2024). Does the effectiveness of a reading intervention differ dependent on students’ Spanish or English proficiencies? 116. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2024.102546 (Original work published 2024)
Fishstrom, S., Capin, P., Fall, A.-M., Roberts, G., Grills, A. E., & Vaughn, S. (2024). Understanding the relation between reading and anxiety among upper elementary students with reading difficulties. 74(1), 123-141,. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11881-024-00299-7 (Original work published 2024)
Fishstrom, S., Capin, P., Fall, A.-M., Roberts, G., Grills, A. E., & Vaughn, S. (2024). Understanding the relation between reading and anxiety among upper elementary students with reading difficulties. 74(1), 123-141,. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11881-024-00299-7 (Original work published 2024)
Capin, P., Vaughn, S., Miller, J. E., Miciak, J., Fall, A.-M., Roberts, G., Cho, E., Barth, A. E., Steinle, P. K., & Fletcher, J. M. (2024). Investigating the Reading Profiles of Middle School Emergent Bilinguals with Significant Reading Comprehension Difficulties. Scientific Studies of Reading, 28(2), 190-213,. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888438.2023.2254871 (Original work published 2024)
Capin, P., Vaughn, S., Miller, J. E., Miciak, J., Fall, A.-M., Roberts, G., Cho, E., Barth, A. E., Steinle, P. K., & Fletcher, J. M. (2024). Investigating the Reading Profiles of Middle School Emergent Bilinguals with Significant Reading Comprehension Difficulties. Scientific Studies of Reading, 28(2), 190-213,. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888438.2023.2254871 (Original work published 2024)