A Study On Reading Research Of Douglas Waples

Community of the American libraries pay more attention to reading research,especially the Chicago School carried out a rich study of reading in the 1930 s.As the leading representative of the Chicago School,Douglas Waples has made great achievements in many fields,especially in reading research.His reading research ideas and practices not only highlight the flourishing period of the establishment and development of reading research system in the United States,but also help guide the overall trend of reading research in China in the future.Based on his own writings,this paper summarizes his main academic achievements in the field of reading in different periods,and tries to systematically sort out the evolution process of his reading ideas and practices,and deeply excavate the academic basis of his reading research.In addition,this paper traces back to Waples' life experience,times background and academic environment,and strives to inspect Waples in the historical conditions at that time,and grasp his academic thoughts from the macro level,so as to make the research object closer to the historical era.Finally,using the comparative research method and combining with the reading research of other scholars,this paper discusses the characteristics and influence of Waples' reading research,so as to better evaluate and orientate Waples from the perspective of reading academic history.By sorting out Waples' academic creation in various periods,it is found that his reading research is deeply influenced by the development of social culture.He hopes to guide the public's value orientation and open up the people's wisdom through reading.He hopes to promote the discipline construction of Library Science and formulate library policy from the starting point of reading research.He mainly studies the sociological aspects of adult reading by using the sociological research program.He brings the research methods of investigation and demonstration into reading research,which is very important to the progress of theory and method.He is committed to making reading research a real social science.Waples' reading research has distinct characteristics of the times,showing a strong sociological color,which has a profound impact on the development of reading research and the American Library Science.