Davis® Dyslexia Correction- Research Overview
The Davis® Dyslexia Correction program was developed by Ronald Dell Davis from independent experimentation and research, beginning in the early 1980's. Davis, who was himself severely dyslexic, had discovered a simple mental technique that radically improved his ability to focus on print. Through clinical experience working with dyslexic adults and children, Davis and his colleagues improved and refined the methods over time. In 1994, after working with more than 1,000 clients, Davis published the first edition of The Gift of Dyslexia, detailing his methods and the theory behind them. Since that time, hundreds of professionals have received advanced training in Davis methods, and licensed Davis Facilitators have collectively worked with more than 20,000 clients.
Published (Peer-Reviewed) Research:
The results of a long term study called "The Effect of the Davis Learning Strategies on First Grade Word Recognition and Subsequent Special Education Referrals" coauthored by T.F. McLaughlin, Ph.D. (Gonzaga University), was published in the journal "Reading Improvement" in August, 2001. An abstract and links to the full text article is available here Davis Learning Strategies Research
Pfeiffer, S., Davis, R., Kellogg, E., Hern, C., McLaughlin, T. F., & Curry, G. (2001, Summer).
The effect of the Davis Learning Strategies on first grade word recognition and subsequent special education referrals. Reading Improvement Project Innovation, 38 (2). Eighty-six K-1 primary students from 3 pilot classrooms in 2 San Francisco schools experienced Davis® Learning Strategies. After one year, students did significantly better than a control group on the mastery of 100 sight words. Two years after intervention, there were no remedial education referrals and a higher than average number of gifted education referrals.
Academic Research
South African educator René Engelbrecht worked with a group of 20 Afrikaans-speaking pupils in grade 5-7 from a school for learners with special needs, to study the impact of the Davis program in a controlled setting. Her report, "The effect of the Ron Davis programme on the reading ability and psychological functioning of children", is available on her web site:
Rene Engelbrecht - Research
Summary of Engelbrecht Report
Jennifer Poole, Ph.D. conducted a comprehensive study of 14 different methods for dyslexia, including Davis methods, and published her results in the book, "Decoding Dyslexia" ( Matador, 2008; ISBN 978-1906510510). She concluded that the key element for a successful approach to dyslexia was to resolve disorientation. She noted that the Davis method was the only approach that used the "orientation" terminology and was expressly based on recognizing and addressing disorientation.
Marshall, Abigail (© 2003 DDAI, updated 2015). Brain scans show dyslexics read better with alternative strategies. Retrieved January 21, 2017 from:
https://www.dyslexia.com/research/articles/alternative-brain-pathways/. Marshall's conclusion that dyslexics learn to read better with alternative strategies reflects that in several research studies that she references. She suggests that traditional phonics-based decoding strategies may be counter-productive with dyslexics who respond better to strategies that build on their right-brain strengths.
Statistical Data Compiled by Davis Providers
Larry Smith, a Davis Dyslexia Correction provider in Calgary, Canada, has recorded statistical information on the progress of 26 consecutive clients, ages 7-19, and presented it in graphical format. His charts show that 50% of the clients increased their reading ability by at least 4 grade levels during the one-week program. Another 21% experienced a 3-grade level increase.
Wes Sole, a Davis provider from London, Ontario (now retired), prepared a detailed report of program outcomes taken from 21 Davis clients, broken down by gender, age, and type of reading skill. He found the greatest degree of improvement in oral reading skills, with 71% of clients improving one or more grade levels during the one-week program.
Media Reports:
Many anecdotal reports concerning Davis Methods have been published in the media, often based on journalist's interviews with adults or children who have completed the Davis program.