A Component Analysis of Metacognition in Reading Comprehension: The Contributions of Awareness and Self‐Regulation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relative effects of awareness of purpose and self‐regulated strategies in metacomprehension training. Thirty‐six students identified as having reading difficulties were either trained to cue themselves to the purpose of reading (awareness of purpose alone) or to employ an underlining strategy (awareness of purpose and a self‐regulated strategy) to enhance reading comprehension. Training was conducted during four, 30‐minute training sessions with follow‐up probes taken 7 to 10 days later. Students trained to underline key words and phrases as they read a passage answered more comprehension questions on an acquisition probe and recalled more propositions on acquisition and generalization probes. Although cueing students to the purpose of reading was beneficial, the combination of awareness of purpose and employment of a self‐regulated strategy generated better comprehension performance.