The effects of duet reading on the reading fluency and comprehension of high school students with learning disabilities

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Angela Gatling Jones (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
William Bursuck

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of Duet Reading, a peer-mediated repeated reading strategy, for increasing the reading fluency of four diverse ninth and tenth grade students with learning disabilities in a large public high school. The effects of Duet Reading on comprehension were explored as well. A multiple probe single-subject design across two groups of students was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. The students were placed in dyads based on similar fluency training levels and the intervention was administered in a staggered fashion according to the dictates of the multiple probe design. Dependent measures included the number of words correct per minute and errors per minute along with pre-post data on the Test of Oral Reading Fluency (TORF) and the comprehension subtest of the Woodcock Reading Mastery Test. Social validity data were also collected. Results of the study revealed that no functional relationship existed between the Duet Reading intervention and the students' oral reading fluency. However, two of the students' oral reading fluency rates increased, with modest gains in comprehension. Despite limited results, overall, the students felt that the intervention was beneficial and helped them become better readers. Results are discussed in terms of previous research, limitations, as well as implications for current practice.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2010
Keywords
Automaticity, Comprehension, Duet Reading, Learning disabilities, Reading fluency, Repeated reading
Subjects
Reading disability $ Education (Secondary).
Reading (Secondary).
Reading (Secondary) $x Research $zUnited States.
Reading comprehension.
Oral reading.
Learning disabilities.
High school students.

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