A Study of the Effectiveness of a Programmed Reader

This comparative study assesses the effectiveness of a programmed workbook, proposed in a previous article, in teaching reading. The workbook incorporated as many of the recommended features as possible. Many desirable features, however, were omitted because of practical limitations. The workbook, approximately 100 pages in length, was based on Gide's La symphonie pastorale. 2 intermediate French sections taught by 2 different instructors were chosen for the study. Students numbered 13 & 22 & were designated Group X & Group Y, respectively. Both groups took a pretest consisting of the MLA-Cooperative French Test, Form A. Both groups read La symphonie pastorale in a 2-week period & had the usual class discussions of it. Students of Group X were encouraged to use the workbook in their preparation. Group Y students had no access to it. Subsequently, both groups again took the MLA-Cooperative French Test, Form A, & comparisons were made of pre-test & post-test scores. Group X, which had used the workbook, made a substantial gain in reading ability as measured by the test. Group Y made only a very slight, statistically insignificant, gain. The workbook is considered effective in the form in which it was used, but an improved version is recommended. AA