ERIC Number: EJ866977
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 37
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1934-5747
EISSN: N/A
Inattention and Response to the ABRACADABRA Web-Based Literacy Intervention
Deault, Louise; Savage, Robert; Abrami, Philip
Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, v2 n3 p250-286 2009
Inattention is often associated with reduced response to reading intervention. This study explored attention as a predictor of individual variation in response to a free-access Web-based literacy intervention, ABRACADABRA (http://abralite.concordia.ca) in typical Grade 1 children. A randomized control design was used to contrast two interventions, a phoneme-based Synthetic and a rime-based Analytic Phonics approach, against a regular classroom control condition. Attention measured by parent ratings and a sustained attention task, was correlated with reading. Attention also predicted growth in blending and reading comprehension for students receiving only regular classroom teaching. However, in the most successful intervention, Synthetic Phonics, attention no longer predicted reading outcome. An omnibus analysis of effect sizes that combined all attention measures across all areas of literacy attainment improved by ABRCADABRA confirmed that there were significant differences between the regular classroom teaching control and the synthetic phonics intervention: Attention predicted significantly more variance in attainment in the control condition. These results suggest that the computer-based literacy intervention, ABRACADABRA, can influence the associations between literacy and attention and may support students at risk of reading and attention difficulties. (Contains 3 tables.)
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Grade 1, Reading Difficulties, Reading Ability, Reading Instruction, At Risk Students, Intervention, Internet, Web Based Instruction, Attention, Attention Control, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Reading Skills, Phonics, Effect Size, Reading Comprehension
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Grade 1
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A