Exploring Metacognitive Strategies Utilizing Digital Books: Enhancing Reading Comprehension Among Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students in Saudi Arabian Higher Education Settings

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine evidence-based practices related to reading comprehension through metacognitive strategies utilizing digital books among deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) in higher education. Previous literature has demonstrated that the major educational challenge for DHH students was developing reading comprehension skills. This issue becomes more complex when DHH students start their undergraduate education in Saudi Arabia due to the difficulty of understanding academic books and journals. Based on the preliminary data, an intervention was designed for DHH students with control and treatment groups ( n = 36). The control group was taught using metacognitive strategies-based printed books. By contrast, the treatment group received an intervention through metacognitive strategies-based digital books. The procedure of the study was designed through multiple measurements: The Achievement Test of Reading Comprehension was used as a baseline measurement. In addition, classroom observations were used during the study to ensure the fidelity of treatment, and students’ perspectives were collected through a survey at the end of the intervention for the social validity purpose. The results indicated significant improvement for both groups with the largest effect relating to the treatment group in reading comprehension and engagement level compared with that of the control group.