An Assessment of Reading Needs of Urban and Rural Novice Literates in Isfahan Literacy Movement

The purpose of this research was to assess reading needs of urban and rural novice literates in Isfahan province. The novice literates’ reading needs in social, cultural, economic, health, personal, art, religious and vocational issues were studied. A escriptive- survey research method and Delphi technique were employed. Statistical population consisted of all novice literates in the province during 1382-83 academic year from which a sample of 456 was selected through a multi-stage cluster sampling method. The data gathering tool was a researcher- made questionnaire including 120 clozed items based on Likert scale which its reliability coefficient was estimated 0.85 in a pilot study. To analyze the data both descriptive and inferential statistical methods were utilized. Findings indicated that reading needs of the examinees in social, health, personal and religious subjects, with a probability rate of 99% were more than average level. A comparison of mean scores of different reading needs confirmed religious and health needs as the highest (with mean scores of 3.53 and 3.45 respectively). And cultural and art needs as the lowest reading needs (with mean scores of 2.53 and 2.47 respectively).