This collection of abstacts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 16 titles deal with the following topics: a comparison of social science textbooks with student reading levels; the correlation between eighth graders' reading ability and their comprehension of content textbooks; the effects of nonprose textual characteristics upon short-term recall; using graphic arts in teaching secondary reading skills; readability of technical vocabulary in social studies materials as comprehended by Mexican American and non-Mexican American students; the effectiveness of problem-solving reading materials on reading comprehension; the effects of an advance organizer on fifth grade social studies comprehension; a comparison of two definitions of the purpose of reading in relation to language functions; reading difficulty in world history textbooks; relationships between skill development and reading comprehension in disadvantaged students; reading task difficulty and beginning office jobs; comprehension of information in picture-text amalgams; a comparison of the reading levels of automotive mechanics with repair manuals; advance organizers and learning and retention of biology; reading comprehension and the symbols and structures of mathematical English; and reading comprehension and social studies content. (MAI)