The effect of teaching sight vocabulary with computer-assisted instruction on vocabulary gain, decrease in reaction time for frequent word recognition, and reading comprehension

Abstract

This study is about the effect of direct vocabulary instruction using CAI on vocabulary knowledge, reading comprehension, and speed of word recognition. The purposes of the study were to find out if students in an intensive English program who use CAI to learn highly frequent vocabulary will learn a significantly larger number of words than those in a control group; if they will decrease their reaction time for frequent word recognition as compared to the control group; and if they will exhibit significantly better reading comprehension than a control group. In this experimental study the students in the treatment group studied the highly frequent words of English on the computer for three hours per week for eight weeks whereas the students in the control group completed three hours of reading and reading comprehension exercises. The research findings are that both groups showed increases in vocabulary gain, reading comprehension, and decrease in reaction time for frequent word recognition. However, the treatment students showed significantly greater gains than the control students.