EduResearch Matters March 17, 2025 by Ania Lian, Anneliese Powell, Charles Darwin University
NAPLAN testing is on right now. Researchers at Charles Darwin University (CDU) critically examined NAPLAN’s narrative marking guide. We developed an alternative approach – Reading for Emotion – that redefines literacy assessment. Instead of treating reading and writing as mechanical exercises in structural correctness, this model frames reading as an intentional act of guiding the reader through an emotional journey.
The Reading for Emotion (RfE) approach, first developed by Ania Lian, shifts the focus of assessment from surface-level linguistic accuracyto the writer’s ability to shape an affective experience for the reader. Drawing on evidence from affective neuroscience (Panksepp, 1998; Solms, 2013), the model positions emotions as the primary structuring force in text analysis.
By evaluating how effectively a text orchestrates emotional shifts and engages the audience, the researchers argue that the model offers a more cohesive and internally consistent framework for assessing student writing—one that better reflects the complexities of authentic communication. This post reports on a study conducted by Anneliese Powell as part of her Master of Education coursework at CDU.
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