Relationship Between Student-Perceived Reading Strategy Instruction and Students’ Reading Comprehension: A Serial Multiple Mediation Model

Abstract Based on the model of reading engagement processes within classroom contexts, this research examined the link between student-perceived reading strategy instruction (RSI) and reading comprehension via multiple mediators, including autonomous reading motivation and reading strategy use (RSU), among 5,275 Chinese fourth graders. Multilevel mediation analysis showed that the direct effect of student-perceived RSI on reading comprehension was not significant at the school level but was significant at the student level. Additionally, the indirect effect of student-perceived RSI on reading comprehension through (first) autonomous reading motivation and (second) RSU was significant at both the student and school levels. The results indicate that student-perceived RSI exerts beneficial effects on student reading learning by fostering autonomous reading motivation and RSU. These findings provide pedagogical implications for directions in future reading instruction.