Comparing the Effectiveness of Two Reciprocal Reading Comprehension Interventions for Primary School Pupils in Disadvantaged Schools

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Comparing the Effectiveness of Two Reciprocal Reading Comprehension Interventions for Primary School Pupils in Disadvantaged Schools
Language: English
Authors: O'Hare, Liam (ORCID 0000-0002-4453-2880), Stark, Patrick, Cockerill, Maria, Lloyd, Katrina, McConnellogue, Sheila, Gildea, Aideen, Biggart, Andy, Bower, Christine, Connolly, Paul
Source: British Journal of Educational Psychology. 2023 93(4):1123-1145.
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 23
Publication Date: 2023
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Descriptors: Reading Comprehension, Intervention, Reading Instruction, Elementary School Students, Disadvantaged Schools, Program Effectiveness, Reading Difficulties, Cooperative Learning, Comparative Analysis
DOI: 10.1111/bjep.12623
ISSN: 0007-0998
2044-8279
Abstract: Background: Effective reading comprehension teaching is an aspiration of education systems across the world. Teaching incorporating reciprocal reading theory and evidence is an internationally popular approach for improving comprehension. Aims: This paper uses two large cluster randomized controlled trials of similar reciprocal reading interventions implemented in different ways to compare their effectiveness. Sample: The two interventions had the same teacher professional development, reciprocal reading activities and dosage/exposure, but varied in their implementation, with one delivered as a whole-class ('universal') version for pupils aged 8-9 years and the other a small group ('targeted') version for pupils aged 9-11 years with specific comprehension difficulties. Methods: Two large-scale cluster RCTs were conducted in 98 schools with N = 3699 pupils in the universal trial and N = 1523 in the targeted trial. Results: Multi-level models showed significant effects for the targeted version of the intervention on pupil reading comprehension (g = 0.18) and overall reading (g = 0.14). No significant effects were found for the whole class version. A sub-group analyses of disadvantaged pupils showed the targeted intervention's effects were even larger on reading comprehension (g = 0.25). Conclusions: The evidence suggested that this reciprocal reading intervention worked best when implemented in small groups and targeted for pupils with specific comprehension difficulties and particularly for pupils in disadvantaged circumstances. Comments: This evaluation shows that even if a reading comprehension intervention is underpinned by strong theory and evidence-based practice, its effectiveness can still depend on implementation choices.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2023
Accession Number: EJ1399628
Database: ERIC
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Abstract:Background: Effective reading comprehension teaching is an aspiration of education systems across the world. Teaching incorporating reciprocal reading theory and evidence is an internationally popular approach for improving comprehension. Aims: This paper uses two large cluster randomized controlled trials of similar reciprocal reading interventions implemented in different ways to compare their effectiveness. Sample: The two interventions had the same teacher professional development, reciprocal reading activities and dosage/exposure, but varied in their implementation, with one delivered as a whole-class ('universal') version for pupils aged 8-9 years and the other a small group ('targeted') version for pupils aged 9-11 years with specific comprehension difficulties. Methods: Two large-scale cluster RCTs were conducted in 98 schools with N = 3699 pupils in the universal trial and N = 1523 in the targeted trial. Results: Multi-level models showed significant effects for the targeted version of the intervention on pupil reading comprehension (g = 0.18) and overall reading (g = 0.14). No significant effects were found for the whole class version. A sub-group analyses of disadvantaged pupils showed the targeted intervention's effects were even larger on reading comprehension (g = 0.25). Conclusions: The evidence suggested that this reciprocal reading intervention worked best when implemented in small groups and targeted for pupils with specific comprehension difficulties and particularly for pupils in disadvantaged circumstances. Comments: This evaluation shows that even if a reading comprehension intervention is underpinned by strong theory and evidence-based practice, its effectiveness can still depend on implementation choices.
ISSN:0007-0998
2044-8279
DOI:10.1111/bjep.12623