THE EFECT OF THINK-ALOUD STRATEGY ON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENT IN READING COMPREHENSION

This study deals with the second year junior high school students’ achievement in
reading comprehension. The objective of the study was the investigation of the
effect of Think-Aloud Strategy on students’ achievement in reading
comprehension. The study was designed in experimental research. The population
of this study was the 2014/2015 grade VIII students of SMP Swasta Sabilina
Tembung, Kecamatan Percut Sei Tuan, Kabupaten Deli Serdang. The total
number of population of the study was 389 students which consist of 12 classes.
The sample of the research was 64 students. The technique used for obtaining the
sample was the cluster sampling technique. The sample classes were divided into
two groups, namely the experimental group that was taught by applying Think-
Aloud Strategy, and the control group that was taught by applying classical
method. The instrument for collecting data used objective test. The data were
taken by administering the pre-test and post-test to both of experimental and
control groups. The test was taken and selected from the National Examination
test items that were related to the kind of descriptive text. So, the validity and
reliability of the test items were considered valid and reliable. The data were
statistically analyzed by using t-test formula at the level of significance � (0.05) =
1.669 with the degree of freedom (df) = 65. It was found that the t-observed was
higher than t-table (t-observed = 4.93 > t-table = 1.669; � = 0.05). It means that
Think-Aloud Strategy significantly affect the students’ achievement in reading
comprehension.