Comparative Study on Reading Comprehension Between Students of Junior High Schools in City and Rural Area

Abstract

This study is aimed to: (1) find out the differences on reading comprehension between students of junior high school in city and rural area, (2) to find out factors that causes differences on reading comprehension between students in city and rural area. This resarch was carried out in SMPN 1 Serang, SMPN 1 Cilegon, SMPN 1 Picung and SMPN 1 Banjarsari. The method used was quantitative method in the form of comparative study. The writer used Ex Post Facto Design in this research. The population of the research was all the third year students of those four schools. The sampling technique was purposive sampling. The writer took 80 students for the sample. The instruments for collecting data were questionnaire, interview, test and also unstructured observation. The technique used to analyze data was T-Test separated variance and polled variance. The result of the study showed that there was a significant difference of students reading comprehension between students in city and rural area. It can be seen from the result of the test. Based on questionnaire which were given to the students and interview for the teacher, the researcher could find out the factors that cause differences on reading comprehension between students in city and rural area, such as the students' interest, motivation of students, teaching methodology, reading material, vocabulary mastery, and culture.

English Language Literacy Skills and Academic Achievement of Urban and Rural Secondary Schools: The Case of High and Low Achievers

“…In line with this, many researchers such as Keskin [46], Yıldız [47], Kerubo [29], and Hijazi [48] disclosed that there was a statistically significant relationship between students' reading comprehension and their achievement in English since reading comprehension positively affects students' achievement. Besides, Sholihah [49] specifically highlights that urban students are interested much in reading the text related to academics like science and new technologies, for example, texts related to computers, Internet, and mobile phones, whereas the students of rural areas have tended to receive a text that is derived from the teacher only. It can be inferred that the differences in reading exposure and practice have brought a significant difference in the reading scores of the students in the two settings.…”

A Study of the Students’ Reading Competency in the Junior High School Based on the 2013 Curriculum

“…She found out that the students' low comprehension was due to the students' limited vocabulary and complex text structures. Next study proposed about reading competency beyond texts, namely reading habits and confidence (Fazal et al, 2012;Sholihah, 2013). These studies observed the students then concluded that bad reading habit lowered the students' reading motivation and selfconfidence in reading.…”