Investigating the Effects of Online Research Skills Instructions: A Quasi-Experimental Study in Grade 8

Abstract

This article reports on a part of a larger  mixed-methods, quasi-experimental study which investigated the effect of  a comprehensive model of online source- use on developing online research skills and lessening copy-paste trend in the writing pieces of Grade 8  ESL students (n = 172) in three private schools in Saida, Lebanon. Eight teachers were randomly assigned into experimental and control conditions along with their respective classes. Five of these teachers implemented a ten–session intervention. The main researcher collected pre and post data on online research and comprehension assessment tool (revised-ORCA). Supported with current research and informed by the principles of the social- cognitive, socio-cultural, and the new literacies theories, statistical analyses revealed that the experimental group outperformed the control group, showing higher score gains from pre-test  to post-test on an overall score of revised ORCA as well as on its subskills. It was also noted that the contribution of the intervention on the scores of communicate ideas responsibly was almost twice the effect on the rest of subskills. Theoretical and pedagogical implications generated from this study were discussed. Recommendations for school policies and further research were also provided.

Keywords: online research skills, copy-paste, middle school, ESL/EFL

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-33-11

Publication date: November 30^th 2020