Resumen:
Objectives: Test the validity of the Simple View of Reading (Gough & Tunmer, 1986) in Spanish and analyze the contributions of decoding and linguistic abilities to reading comprehension. Method: This longitudinal study assessed a sample of 71 Spanish speaking children at Grade 1 and Grade 3. At each time point, a battery of tests assessed children¿s linguistic abilities, decoding and reading comprehension. The authors used the classic model of SVR: model 0 (pseudoword accuracy reading and listening comprehension) and a complex model: Model 1 (linguistic abilities and decoding). Results: Results of regression analyses showed that the original model of the SVR, explained little variance of reading comprehension in Spanish in comparison with the results obtained in English. However, a complex model explained 51% and 55% of the variance of reading comprehension in first and third grade respectively. The unique contribution of linguistic abilities increased from 27% in first grade to 43% in third grade and the contribution of decoding decreased from 24% in first grade to 2% in third grade. Conclusions: The results are explained in terms of the transparent nature of Spanish orthography and educational implications are discussed.
