Data Mountain: Self-Monitoring, Goal Setting, and Positive Attributions to Enhance the Oral Reading Fluency of Elementary Students with or At-Risk for Reading Disabilities

The primary purpose of the study was to conduct a randomized controlled trial to replicate the efficacy of a self-determination learning program, Data Mountain, to improve the oral reading fluency (ORF) performance of students with or at-risk for reading disabilities (RD). This study included 109 students with or at-risk for RD in 2nd through 5th grade enrolled in three rural public schools. Participants were randomized into one of three conditions: Data Mountain delivered individually (DM-I), Data Mountain delivered in a small group (DM-G), or a comparison condition (COM). In Data Mountain conditions, students evaluated their progress on ORF via a line graph, set goals on the number of words read correctly in one minute, and attributed success with strategy use. The original program was 15 lessons (Author, 2020a, 2021) and 15 new lessons were developed for the present study for a total of 30. These newly developed lessons scaffolded learning and students independently realized the self-determination process. Multilevel models examined differences between Data Mountain students and those in the comparison condition, and results indicated that treatment effects varied by tutor and year. Delivery formats were also compared, and there were no differences found between students receiving the program individually and those receiving it in a small group. Findings also included moderating effects of baseline ORF performance. Discussion is centered around implications of COVID-19 and replication research.