Scrutinizing efl learners' online reading strategy use across proficiency levels

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the difference in online reading strategy use between EFL students with high and low English proficiency level and knowing the relationship between online strategy use and reading comprehension. Ninety-six university students were involved in this research, and they were distributed into two groups; high and low proficiency levels based on English proficiency test scores. SORS was administered to collect the data after completing three reading sessions. Analyses of the data, using the Chi-square test to see the differences and the Spearman test, to check the relationship between strategy use and reading achievement. The results showed that the reading strategy that was most frequently used by the EFL learners was a problem-solving strategy, and the least frequently used one was a socio-affective strategy. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the online reading strategy use between students in high and low proficiency levels. Therefore, there was a negative relationship between strategy use and reading achievement. The more strategies they used, the lower score they got.