UROP Project
Expanding the Evidence Base: Does Use of Assistive Technology in the Form of Text-to-Speech and Related Read-Aloud Tools Improve Reading Comprehension for Students with Reading Disabilities? A Meta-Analysis
aassistive technology, reading comprehension, text-to-speech, reading disabilities, technology, meta-analysis
Research Mentor: Mr Landon R. Heller , He/Him
Department, College, Affiliation: Developmental Psychology , Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: lrh20@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Developmental Psychology , Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: lrh20@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: All majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: All majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
- Day: Wednesday, September 3
Start Time: 3:00
End Time: 3:30
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/98202885283 - Day: Tuesday, September 2
Start Time: 2:00
End Time: 2:30
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/98202885283
Project Description
Meta-analysis is the quantitative combination of findings from multiple studies on a given topic. It addresses the limitations of individual studies, such as small sample sizes or inconsistent results, by synthesizing evidence to produce more precise and generalizable conclusions.This research project examines the effects of text-to-speech (TTS) technology on reading comprehension for students with reading disabilities. TTS is an assistive technology that converts written text into spoken words, which may help students better understand and retain what they read. The project is part of the Florida State Department of Psychology.
The work involves identifying and coding relevant studies, analyzing effect sizes, and interpreting findings within the context of the broader literature on reading comprehension and assistive technology. The results aim to clarify the overall effectiveness of TTS and identify factors that may influence its impact, informing both research and educational practice.
Research Tasks: The research tasks will involve coding studies for categorical moderators of study features, along with additional coding of numerical features, including the extraction of means, standard deviations, and treatment group sizes. This will also require understanding the broader literature on text-to-speech within the context of the coded studies. Attend weekly meetings on coding procedures and meetings regarding hourly coding expectations.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Undergraduate students participating in this project will need strong reading comprehension skills to accurately interpret and code the studies. They must also demonstrate patience to thoroughly extract study materials in detail. In addition, strong time management skills are essential, as coding for a meta-analysis is a time-intensive process that requires both precision and persistence.
Mentoring Philosophy
First, I believe the best way to learn about something is to get directly involved in research on it.Second, I value students’ time and am committed to ensuring they get the most out of the experience. This means not only providing the opportunity to participate in a research project, but also making it possible to learn a scientific method, meta-analysis, that can strengthen their skills and make them more competitive for graduate or professional training programs.
Third, I view mentoring as an apprenticeship that helps students determine whether this kind of research is something they may want to pursue further. This requires providing opportunities to see the broader context of the work, not just the technical details.
Fourth, my own path into graduate school was shaped by the mentoring I received as an undergraduate research assistant at Florida State University. Experiencing firsthand the growth that comes from working alongside graduate students gave me a model for mentorship that I aim to continue. My goal is to provide students with the same kind of support and opportunities that guided me toward pursuing advanced training.