Monica Melby?Lervåg|Arne Lervåg
Reading comprehension and its underlying components in second-language learners: A meta-analysis of studies comparing first- and second-language learners.
University of Oslo|University of Oslo
report systematic metaanalytic review studies comparing reading comprehension underlying components language comprehension decoding phonological awareness first secondlanguage learners review included 82 studies 576 effect sizes calculated reading comprehension underlying components key findings compared firstlanguage learners secondlanguage learners display mediumsized deficit reading comprehension pooled effect size 062 large deficit language comprehension pooled effect size 112 small differences phonological awareness pooled effect size 008 decoding pooled effect size 012 moderator analysis showed characteristics related type reading comprehension test reliably explained variation differences reading comprehension first secondlanguage learners language comprehension studies samples low socioeconomic backgrounds samples first language used home generated largest group differences favor firstlanguage learners test characteristics study origin reliably contributed variations studies language comprehension decoding canadian studies showed group differences favor secondlanguage learners whereas opposite case us studies regarding implications unless specific decoding problems detected interventions aim ameliorate reading comprehension problems among secondlanguage learners focus language comprehension skills