Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Shahrooz Nemati ¹
• Shahram Vahedi ²
• Hossein Dehghanzadeh ³
• Zahra Hosseinpour ³

¹ Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Educational Science and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

² Department of Educational Science, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

³ Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

Abstract

This study examined the effects of gamified integrated training combining basic reading skills and working memory exercises on reading performance and academic engagement in students with specific learning disorder (SLD) and reading impairment. Using a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design, 30 students with dyslexia (15 girls, 15 boys) were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received 12 weeks of gamified training integrating reading skill development with working memory tasks, while the control group followed standard curriculum. Standardized assessments measured reading performance (phonological awareness, word reading, fluency, comprehension) and academic engagement (behavioral, emotional, cognitive dimensions) before and after intervention.
MANCOVA and ANCOVA analyses, controlling for baseline scores, revealed significant improvements in the experimental group across all reading measures (p<0.01, η²=0.42) and engagement domains (p<0.05, η²=0.35) compared to controls. Effect sizes indicated moderate to large intervention impacts. The gamified approach simultaneously enhanced cognitive reading skills and motivational engagement, suggesting its dual benefit for SLD students. These results support incorporating game-based elements into reading interventions to address both skill deficits and learning motivation in this population. The integrated training model shows promise as a comprehensive approach for students with reading-related SLD.

Keywords

• working memory
• gamification
• reading performance
• academic engagement
• specific learning disorder