Beth M. Phillips|Christopher J. Lonigan
Variations in the Home Literacy Environment of Preschool Children: A Cluster Analytic Approach
Florida State University|Florida State University
abstract home literacy surveys collected primary caregiver 1044 2 5yearold children 4932 months sd 936 representing wide range socioeconomic backgrounds types early educational programs child care caregivers completed survey questions family background home literacy activities materials hierarchical cluster analyses performed three randomly constituted subsamples total sample revealed threecluster solution best fit data clusters differed frequency shared reading literacy teaching activities clusters representing caregivers either low high behaviors low shared reading behaviors high literacy teaching behaviors cluster membership significantly related socioeconomic status family living circumstances caregiver stress caregiver reading ability results support model home literacy behavior informed knowledge resources also parental beliefs deliberate choices