Boast, K. (1974). A study of the ability of primary school students to read photographs. Curriculum and Research Bulletin, 9, 130-141.

(Conclusion.) There was substantial indication from this study that, when junior primary school students are confronted in a free response situation with a photograph, they tend to focus primarily on identifying pictorial items. Conversely, senior primary school children, especially Grade 6 students, go beyond item identification and not only relate items more effectively, but more willingly draw particular and general interpretative conclusions. Similarly, there was substantial indication that the more senior primary school children are less likely to select items that cannot be used as evidence to support a suggested interpretation. Conversely, the more senior students, particularly those of Grade 6, are more able to produce acceptable evidence, to place the photograph in a total context, and to offer interpretative explanations. (...)