Kathryn S McCarthy
Biographic Data
| ID | 6200088 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Kathryn S McCarthy |
| GIVEN NAMES | Kathryn S |
| FAMILY NAME | McCarthy |
| SIGNATURE | MCCARTHY K S |
| AFFILIATIONS | Georgia State University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-6277-7005 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 15 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 19 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 15 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2015 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Disentangling Ballot Complexity
The linguistic complexity of ballot measures impedes people's ability to participate fully in democratic processes by limiting voters’ ability to understand and act on legislation that affects their everyday lives. We conducted an ecologically grounded experiment to examine the effects of three common types of text simplification (surface readability, Plain Language, and discourse‐informed revisions) on voting behaviors. The results demonstrated …
Integrating Reading, Writing, and Digital Tools in Science
The purpose of this study was to engage high school science teachers as co-design partners in refining and extending instructional frameworks to support multiple-document reading and writing in science classrooms. Using a participatory mixed-methods design, the project adapted the InSPECT framework for secondary science, developed professional development (PD) materials to introduce the framework, and explored the role of generative artificial in…
Constructed responses as a window into strategic processing
Reading Comprehension and Constructive Learning
Although reading in the digital age looks different than in the past (e.g., on a screen, shorter texts spread across multiple sources), reading continues to be a central part of everyday life. Research in reading comprehension shows that this type of modern reading requires more complex knowledge building inference processes that are difficult for many adolescents and adults. Constructive and personalized learning activities can support readers’ …
Understanding the Role of Cinematic Features on the Experience of Filmed Events
The goal of the present study was to explore the impact of cinematic features on the comprehension of fiction film. Professional filmmakers filmed an event (a dance performance) to create three versions of a film (one objective long shot version, two versions edited to focus on one of the characters). Participants “thought aloud” as they watched one of the versions of the film. Think-aloud responses were coded on the cognitive framing (e.g., desc…
Anchoring your bridge
Analyzing constructed responses, such as think-alouds or self-explanations, can reveal\nvaluable information about readers’ comprehension strategies. The current study\nexpands upon the extant work by (1) investigating combinations and patterns of\ncomprehension strategies that readers use and (2) examining the extent to which\nthese patterns relate to individual differences and comprehension outcomes. We\nleveraged archival data from three datas…
Integration in Multiple-Document Comprehension
The constructed responses individuals generate while reading can provide insights into their coherence-building processes. The current study examined how the cohesion of constructed responses relates to performance on an integrated writing task. Participants (N = 95) completed a multiple document reading task wherein they were prompted to think aloud, self-explain, or evaluate the sources while reading and then write an integrated essay based on …
The Multidimensional Knowledge in Text Comprehension framework
Prior knowledge is one of the strongest contributors to comprehension, but there is little specificity about different aspects of prior knowledge and how they impact comprehension. This article introduces the Multidimensional Knowledge in Text Comprehension framework, which conceptualizes prior knowledge along four intersecting dimensions: amount, accuracy, specificity, and coherence. Amount refers to how many relevant concepts the reader knows. …
Using graph centrality as a global index to assess students’ mental model structure development during summary writing
Improving summary writing through formative feedback in a technology‐enhanced learning environment
writing is a useful instructional tool for learning. However, summary writing is a challenge to many students. This mixed‐method study examined the potential of the Student Mental Model Analyzer for Research and Teaching (SMART) system to help students produce summaries that reflect key concepts and relations in a text. SMART uses the students' summary to generate a multi‐dimensional 3S (surface, structure, semantic) evaluation of the students' m…
Personalized learning in iSTART
Computer-based learning environments (CBLEs) provide unprecedented opportunities for personalized learning at scale. One such system, iSTART (Interactive Strategy Training for Active Reading and Thinking) is an adaptive, game-based tutoring system for reading comprehension. This paper describes how efforts to increase personalized learning have improved the system. It also provides results of a recent implementation of an adaptive logic that incr…
Do African American Male and Female Adolescents Differ in Technological Engagement
The Russian Language Test
Reading comprehension relies on a variety of complex skills that are not effectively assessed by existing Russian language tests. At the same time, Russian textbooks are criticized both for their low text quality and high text complexity. This study addresses issues of Russian language proficiency and comprehension assessment with the development of the Russian Language Test (RLT). The RLT was constructed to measure proficiency relevant to textbo…
Comprehension in a Scenario-Based Assessment
Background knowledge is a strong predictor of reading comprehension, yet little is known about how different types of background knowledge affect comprehension. The study investigated the impacts of both domain and topic-specific background knowledge on students’ ability to comprehend and learn from science texts. High school students (n = 3,650) completed two background knowledge assessments, a pretest, comprehension tasks, and a posttest, in th…
Comprehension of Short Stories
An important purpose of reading literature is to move beyond the literal text to construct an interpretation of what the text conveys about the human condition and nature of the world. In two experiments, college students with no prior training in literary analysis read a short story and responded to one of four task instructions (plot, ambiguous, argument, theme) designed to bias either an interpretive or literal stance toward the text. Results …
Comprehension in a Scenario-Based Assessment
Background knowledge is a strong predictor of reading comprehension, yet little is known about how different types of background knowledge affect comprehension. The study investigated the impacts of both domain and topic-specific background knowledge on students’ ability to comprehend and learn from science texts. High school students (n = 3,650) completed two background knowledge assessments, a pretest, comprehension tasks, and a posttest, in th…
Anchoring your bridge
Analyzing constructed responses, such as think-alouds or self-explanations, can reveal\nvaluable information about readers’ comprehension strategies. The current study\nexpands upon the extant work by (1) investigating combinations and patterns of\ncomprehension strategies that readers use and (2) examining the extent to which\nthese patterns relate to individual differences and comprehension outcomes. We\nleveraged archival data from three datas…
Integration in Multiple-Document Comprehension
The constructed responses individuals generate while reading can provide insights into their coherence-building processes. The current study examined how the cohesion of constructed responses relates to performance on an integrated writing task. Participants (N = 95) completed a multiple document reading task wherein they were prompted to think aloud, self-explain, or evaluate the sources while reading and then write an integrated essay based on …
Comprehension of Short Stories
An important purpose of reading literature is to move beyond the literal text to construct an interpretation of what the text conveys about the human condition and nature of the world. In two experiments, college students with no prior training in literary analysis read a short story and responded to one of four task instructions (plot, ambiguous, argument, theme) designed to bias either an interpretive or literal stance toward the text. Results …
Do African American Male and Female Adolescents Differ in Technological Engagement
Constructed responses as a window into strategic processing
Comprehension of Short Stories
An important purpose of reading literature is to move beyond the literal text to construct an interpretation of what the text conveys about the human condition and nature of the world. In two experiments, college students with no prior training in literary analysis read a short story and responded to one of four task instructions (plot, ambiguous, argument, theme) designed to bias either an interpretive or literal stance toward the text. Results …
Comprehension in a Scenario-Based Assessment
Background knowledge is a strong predictor of reading comprehension, yet little is known about how different types of background knowledge affect comprehension. The study investigated the impacts of both domain and topic-specific background knowledge on students’ ability to comprehend and learn from science texts. High school students (n = 3,650) completed two background knowledge assessments, a pretest, comprehension tasks, and a posttest, in th…
The Russian Language Test
Reading comprehension relies on a variety of complex skills that are not effectively assessed by existing Russian language tests. At the same time, Russian textbooks are criticized both for their low text quality and high text complexity. This study addresses issues of Russian language proficiency and comprehension assessment with the development of the Russian Language Test (RLT). The RLT was constructed to measure proficiency relevant to textbo…
Personalized learning in iSTART
Computer-based learning environments (CBLEs) provide unprecedented opportunities for personalized learning at scale. One such system, iSTART (Interactive Strategy Training for Active Reading and Thinking) is an adaptive, game-based tutoring system for reading comprehension. This paper describes how efforts to increase personalized learning have improved the system. It also provides results of a recent implementation of an adaptive logic that incr…
Do African American Male and Female Adolescents Differ in Technological Engagement
The Multidimensional Knowledge in Text Comprehension framework
Prior knowledge is one of the strongest contributors to comprehension, but there is little specificity about different aspects of prior knowledge and how they impact comprehension. This article introduces the Multidimensional Knowledge in Text Comprehension framework, which conceptualizes prior knowledge along four intersecting dimensions: amount, accuracy, specificity, and coherence. Amount refers to how many relevant concepts the reader knows. …
Using graph centrality as a global index to assess students’ mental model structure development during summary writing
Improving summary writing through formative feedback in a technology‐enhanced learning environment
writing is a useful instructional tool for learning. However, summary writing is a challenge to many students. This mixed‐method study examined the potential of the Student Mental Model Analyzer for Research and Teaching (SMART) system to help students produce summaries that reflect key concepts and relations in a text. SMART uses the students' summary to generate a multi‐dimensional 3S (surface, structure, semantic) evaluation of the students' m…
Integration in Multiple-Document Comprehension
The constructed responses individuals generate while reading can provide insights into their coherence-building processes. The current study examined how the cohesion of constructed responses relates to performance on an integrated writing task. Participants (N = 95) completed a multiple document reading task wherein they were prompted to think aloud, self-explain, or evaluate the sources while reading and then write an integrated essay based on …
Anchoring your bridge
Analyzing constructed responses, such as think-alouds or self-explanations, can reveal\nvaluable information about readers’ comprehension strategies. The current study\nexpands upon the extant work by (1) investigating combinations and patterns of\ncomprehension strategies that readers use and (2) examining the extent to which\nthese patterns relate to individual differences and comprehension outcomes. We\nleveraged archival data from three datas…
Reading Comprehension and Constructive Learning
Although reading in the digital age looks different than in the past (e.g., on a screen, shorter texts spread across multiple sources), reading continues to be a central part of everyday life. Research in reading comprehension shows that this type of modern reading requires more complex knowledge building inference processes that are difficult for many adolescents and adults. Constructive and personalized learning activities can support readers’ …
Understanding the Role of Cinematic Features on the Experience of Filmed Events
The goal of the present study was to explore the impact of cinematic features on the comprehension of fiction film. Professional filmmakers filmed an event (a dance performance) to create three versions of a film (one objective long shot version, two versions edited to focus on one of the characters). Participants “thought aloud” as they watched one of the versions of the film. Think-aloud responses were coded on the cognitive framing (e.g., desc…
Integrating Reading, Writing, and Digital Tools in Science
The purpose of this study was to engage high school science teachers as co-design partners in refining and extending instructional frameworks to support multiple-document reading and writing in science classrooms. Using a participatory mixed-methods design, the project adapted the InSPECT framework for secondary science, developed professional development (PD) materials to introduce the framework, and explored the role of generative artificial in…
Constructed responses as a window into strategic processing
Disentangling Ballot Complexity
The linguistic complexity of ballot measures impedes people's ability to participate fully in democratic processes by limiting voters’ ability to understand and act on legislation that affects their everyday lives. We conducted an ecologically grounded experiment to examine the effects of three common types of text simplification (surface readability, Plain Language, and discourse‐informed revisions) on voting behaviors. The results demonstrated …
Psychology (11 works) · Computer Science (10 works) · Comprehension (8 works) · Educational Strategies and Epistemologies (8 works) · Reading comprehension (8 works) · Artificial Intelligence (6 works) · Cognitive psychology (6 works) · Linguistics (6 works) · Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods (5 works) · Reading (process (5 works)