This study incorporates a random forest (RF) approach to probe complex interactions and nonlinearity among predictors into an item response model with the goal of using a hybrid approach to outperform either an RF or explanatory item response model (EIRM) only in explaining item responses. In the specified model, called EIRM-RF, predicted values…

This study was designed to examine the effects of applying different cognitive reading comprehension strategies on the comprehension of descriptive, narrative, argumentative, and expository texts among Iraqi beginner, intermediate, and advanced EFL learners to investigate whether the benefits of cognitive reading strategies are consistent across…

In this paper, we advance the examination of generative AI (GenAI) in educational contexts in two distinct ways. First, we introduce and evaluate an innovative workshop model designed to explore GenAI metaphors, helping participants to articulate their own and their peers' responses to the technology. These workshops included students, academics…

This Case Study is based on a doctoral research project that I conducted in Greek primary education where English was taught as a foreign language. An intervention was employed to explore its impact on the inclusion of English as a foreign language learners with dyslexia and their peers. The discussion herein focuses on the way critical realism as…

This study investigates the role of diglossic and orthographic features in reading comprehension in Arabic. Specifically, it probes the independent contribution of language, metalinguistic, and decoding skills in the spoken language and in Standard Arabic to reading comprehension in the "abjad" writing system of Arabic. A sample of 112…

Educational technology is ubiquitous, and educational technology interventions often target literacy. However, there is insufficient information about the effects of these interventions on literacy outcomes in elementary school. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of quasi-experimental and experimental studies published…

This research memorandum highlights the collaborative efforts of the literacy panel for the ETS Return on Investment (ROI) Study, Phase 1, comprising Jean-François Rouet, M. Anne Britt, and Tobias Richter, in developing their research memorandum, "Literacy Skills at and around Level 2 of the PIAAC Cycle 2 Proficiency Scale." This…

Fluency is a central tenet of productive reading and shares a complex relationship with other reading processes such as reading comprehension, vocabulary, language, and executive functioning. Supporting fluency for upper elementary readers entails unique considerations. In this article, the authors detail how the authors designed an adolescent…

The multiple methods study was utilized to determine the following: (1) the relationship between reading/special education teachers' instruction of processes designed to engage readers in thinking about what they read, (2) students' use of the processes, and (3) comprehension development. This was followed by qualitatively examining performance…

Selecting texts that can support young readers is essential work for teachers because the 'right' text provides readers with opportunities to demonstrate their skills, strategies and comprehension. Text complexity guides offer teachers one way to select those texts, but despite these pedagogical supports, many readers continue to struggle with…

In assessment contexts, the domain definition inference requires accurate documentation of linguistic demands in a specific target domain for precise measurement. The present study examines several aspects of repetitions in academic lecture settings to offer the domain definition inference for academic listening tests. To do this, I analyzed the…

This study examined the direct and indirect effects of foundational language (vocabulary and syntactic knowledge) and literacy (orthographic knowledge) skills, transcription (spelling and handwriting fluency), and higher-order cognitive skills (comprehension monitoring and inferencing making) on writing among Chinese children. Participants were…

In this paper, I consider pedagogical moments when the project of pedagogy is to "not understand," as understanding would entail complicity with dehumanization. I explore the slipperiness of understanding and parse when understanding is helpful and when it reinscribes structures of dehumanization. I examine when it might be important in…

Children with developmental language disorder (DLD) have consistently showed poor performances in reading comprehension. Extending from previous studies that presented pure-text, this study aims to test the performances of graphic novel reading. We tested 24 Chinese children who have been diagnosed as DLD and 24 typical readers matched with age…

Purpose: This study examines the developmental interplay between silent reading fluency and reading comprehension from Grade 1 to Grade 9 (age 7 to 15) in a large Finnish sample (N = 2,518). Of particular interest was whether the associations are bidirectional or unidirectional. Methods: Children's silent reading fluency and reading comprehension…