Resumen de Transfer between reading comprehension and word-problem solving among children with learning difficulty in both domains

Lynn S. Fuchs, Pamela M. Seethaler, Sonya K. Sterba, Douglas Fuchs, Laurie E. Cutting, Jeannette Mancilla-Martinez, BrittanyLee N. Martin, Daniel Espina

• Reading comprehension (RC) and word-problem solving (WPS) both involve text processing. Yet, despite evidence that RC text-structure intervention (RC.INT) improves RC, transfer to WPS has not been investigated. Similarly, despite evidence that WPS text-structure intervention (WP.INT) improves WPS, transfer to RC has not been examined. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to assess effects of single-domain text-structure intervention (RC or WPS intervention) for simultaneously improving RC and WPS. Second-grade children with comorbid learning difficulty across RC and WPS were randomly assigned to three conditions: RC.INT, WP.INT, or the standard school program (the control group). Inferential tests for acquisition effects in multilevel models were significant. RC.INT’s effect sizes (ESs) (vs. control) on RC were g = 1.16 and 0.83; WP.INT’s ESs (vs. control) on WPS were g = 1.36 and 1.05. Inferential tests for cross-domain transfer effects in multilevel models were also significant. RC.INT’s ESs (vs. control) on WPS were g = 0.41 and 0.68; WP.INT’s ES (vs. control) on RC were g = 0.91 and 0.54. Children’s text-structure knowledge in passages and word problems mediated acquisition and cross-domain transfer effects in multilevel models. Findings suggest that text-structure intervention may help address the complex needs of children with comorbid RC and WPS difficulty. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)