Matching three classifications of secondary students to differential levels of study guides

This study examined the effectiveness of matching three classifications of secondary students (17 with learning disabilities, 18 remedial, and 47 nondisabled) to differential levels of study guides. The students, 45 males and 37 females, were enrolled in science and social studies classes in middle school and high school. In one treatment, students were assigned multilevel study guides containing different levels of referential cues, with the guides implemented through three instructional groups: teacher-directed, dyadic, and independent. In another treatment, the same students were assigned single-level study guides that did not contain referential cues, with the guides implemented as an independent activity. An equivalent time samples design was arranged, with six multilevel and six single-level treatments randomly assigned in two-session blocks. The dependent measures consisted of two types of test items, factual and interpretive. The results of group analyses indicated that multilevel study guides were more effective than single-level study guides in all classes and overall on factual questions, with individual analyses verifying that the greatest benefit occurred for the teacher-directed students. On interpretive test items, the results of group analyses favored the multilevel study guides in high school social studies and overall, with individual analyses revealing few remarkable differences for students in any instructional group. A trend analysis revealed little practice effect over time in either treatment. Several methodological and clinical issues involved in matching heterogeneous students to differential levels of textbook instruction in secondary programs are discussed.