The relation between attitude toward reading adolescent literature and literary reading behavior

The research presented in this article concludes that the widely accepted Model of Planned Behavior (MPB) is an adequate model for measuring the attitude toward reading adolescent literature [By 'adolescent literature' we mean works of fiction to be read by middle grade students. These can be works like 'Huckleberry Finn', but also more modern works of fiction aiming at middle grade readers or even adults] of students in grades 7-9 of secondary education. of all attitude components distinguished in the MPB the strongest predictors of the actual reading of adolescent literature appear to be the cognitive and affective attitude and the intentions. The subjective norm and the perceived behavioral control are hardly connected with the reading behavior. On average, student in higher grades, students following lower types of education and boys appear to have less favorable attitudes to adolescent literature and to read less adolescent literature. Results are discussed inr elation to educational implications and implications for theories and research into reading behavior and the attitude towards reading adolescent literature.