HomePsychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journalvol. 46 no. 3 (2025)

Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER): A Strategy in Improving Reading Comprehension among Grade 5 Learners

Missy Marah Abutanmo | Vilma Arazo

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

This study examined the effectiveness of the Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) method in enhancing reading comprehension among fifth-grade students at Benito S. Ong Memorial School in Iligan City. This study employed a quasi-experimental research method, with twenty student participants taking pre-tests and post-tests using Phil-IRI passages. Reading comprehension levels were measured before and after the implementation of CER activities in the classroom to assess the effectiveness of the strategy. The study found that the CER intervention resulted in a significant improvement in reading comprehension. Initially, all participants showed frustration-level comprehension. However, following the intervention, the majority of learners advanced to the instructional level. This study found a significant improvement in the reading comprehension of grade five learners following the implementation of the intervention. Initially, all 20 learners scored in the frustration level, but the majority progressed to the instructional level after the intervention, with test scores increasing by 11 to 22 points. Learners also reported a preference for using claims to answer questions (mean of 3.90), indicating increased engagement and motivation. This improvement in reading comprehension led to the rejection of the null hypothesis. The findings suggested this approach could benefit similar learners, and its integration into reading curricula may improve academic outcomes.



References:

  1. Abdullah, N.S. & Ismail, H.H. (2025). Click, think, read: investigating the use of metacognitive online reading strategies among Malaysian ESL students. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science. https://withered-silence-53.linkyhost.com
  2. Abril, G., Acerbo, C.,& Abocejo, F. (2022). The Philippine informal reading inventory (Phil-IRI) program: A critical analysis. BirLE-Journal. https://tinyurl.com/aed4ddsb      
  3. Al-Saggaf, M., Al-Aqad, M., & Govindasamay, V. (2020). The key factors affecting English reading comprehension among Malaysian students. Psychology and Education. https://tinyurl.com/4pncrcfu  
  4. Asfar, A., Ahmad, M., Gani, H., & Muhamad, A. (2021). Development of Connecting, Extending: Review learning model to improve student’s mathematical reasoning ability. Asian Journal of Applied Sciences v9. https://white-field-5.linkyhost.com/     
  5. Azevedo, B., Oliveira, D.A., Finger, I., & Tomitch, L.M.B. (2022). Does working memory capacity predict literal and inferential comprehension of bilinguals’ digital reading in a multitasking setting. Language Teaching Research Quarterly, v31 p136-158. https://eric.ed.gov/?q=literal+comprehension+&ft=on&id=EJ1359151  
  6. Aziz, M. & Rawian, R. (2022). Modeling higher order thinking skills and metacognitive awareness in English reading comprehension among university learners. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2022.991015/full     
  7. Baltonado, L. (2023). Subject-integrated instructional material for the Enhancement of the least mastered reading comprehension skills among grade five pupils. https://tinyurl.com/nazeaawu 
  8. Bautista, J. (2023). PH students still among lowest scorers in reading, math, science   – Pisa. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1871182/ph-students-still-among-lowest-scorers-in-reading-math-science-pisa#ixzz8yi94tF1H   
  9. Becton, L. (2022). 15 Learning theories in education: a complete summary. https://www.educationcorner.com/learning-theories-in-education/  
  10. Becton, L. (2022). The complete guide to Jean Piaget’s learning theories. https://www.educationcorner.com/jean-piaget/    
  11. Becton, L. (2022). Bandura’s social learning theory in education. https://www.educationcorner.com/social-learning-theory/  
  12. Becton, L. (2022). Cognitive tools theory in education. https://www.educationcorner.com/cognitive-tools-theory-in-education/  
  13. Caabay, M.T., Martinez, L., Valdestamon, L. & Aguhayon, H. (2024). Intervention to enhance reading comprehension skills of grade 7 students through background knowledge activation, Repeated readings, reading aloud, and asking questions. International Journal of Education and Teaching Zone. https://jurnal.yayasannurulyakin.sch.id/index.php/ijetz/article/view/154  
  14. Cabural, A. and Infantado, E.J. (2023). The difficulty of reading comprehension and the proficiency of the grade 10 students of Aloran trade high school. Journal of Tertiary Education and Learning. https://falling-surf-40.linkyhost.com/ 
  15. Capodieci, A., Cornoldi, C., Doerr, E., Bertolo, L., & Carretti, B. (2020). The use of new technologies for improving reading comprehension. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00751/full    
  16. Casignal, C. (2022). Efficacy of PHIL-IRI and remedial classes for Filipinos at the intermediate level. Journal of Sustainable Business, Economics, and Finance. https://tinyurl.com/2s4ya8nz
  17. Castro, Q.A. (2025). Frustration readers in senior high school: a case study. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Queenie-Anne-Castro/publication/387942020_Frustration_Readers_in_Senior_High_School_A_Case_Study/links/67853dfe55274940f1239bfe/Frustration-Readers-in-Senior-High-School-A-Case-Study.pdf  
  18. Cheng, S.T., Hiong, S.J., Gnanamalar, E., & Daniel, E.G.S. (2024). Integrating HOTs in reading comprehension in inclusive classrooms:implications from a dyslexia study. Journal of International and Comparative Education, v13 n2 p127-152. https://eric.ed.gov/?q=importance+of+reading+comprehension&ft=on&id=EJ1445654  
  19. Clinton, V., Taylor, T., Bajpayee, S., Davison, M., Carlson, S. & Seipel, B. (2020). Inferential comprehension differences between narrative and expository texts: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11145-020-10044-2     
  20. Dela Peña, C. & Luque-Rojas, M.J. (2021). Levels of reading comprehension in higher education: systematic review and meta-analysis. Sec. Educational Psychology Volume 12. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.712901/full   
  21. De Vera, B. (2022). Lockdown’s impact: Unicef cites poor reading skills among PH kids. Inquirer.Net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1576573/lockdowns-impact-unicef-cites-poor-reading-skills-among-ph-kids#ixzz8t9Kmj1LG  
  22. Drew, C. (2022). Metacognitive theory – definition, pros and cons. https://helpfulprofessor.com/metacognitive-theory/#:~:text=Definition%20of%20Metacognition  
  23. Duke, N. & Pearson, P. (2022). Effective practices for developing reading Comprehension. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254282574_Effective_Practices_for_Developing_Reading_Comprehension 
  24. Duke, N.K., Ward, A., & Pearson, P.D. (2021). The Science of Reading Comprehension Instruction. https://ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/trtr.1993    
  25. Espiel, E. & Carretero, M. (2022). Factors affecting the reading comprehension of grade 7 students. United International Journal for Research & Technology v3. https://uijrt.com/articles/v3/i9/UIJRTV3I90001.pdf    
  26. Feder, M. (2022). What is cognitive learning? https://www.phoenix.edu/blog/what-is-cognitive-learning-theory.html  
  27. Ganaden, A. (2022). Learners’ reading skill during the pandemic. http://www.udyong.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=articl&id=11240:learners-reading-skills-during-the-pandemic&catid=90&Itemid=1368     
  28. Hardcastle, J., Abell, C.F.H., & DeBoer, G. (2021). Validating a claim-evidence Science idea-reasoning (CESR) framework for use in NGSS assessment tasks. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED612227.pdf    
  29. Hogan, M., Newstadt, M., Dawood, M., Rushkin, I., & Rosen, Y. (2023). Evidence of accelerated improvement of claim-evidence-reasoning (CER) skills with BrainPOP Science: a case study of southeastern region districts. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED656952.pdf 
  30. Kamagi, S. (2020). A study on students’ ability in literal and inferential comprehension of English texts. Journal of International Conference Proceedings. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/16aa/c1dfc21a573b11cd6b715cfe76c41f08445b.pdf       
  31. Kandemir, M. & Bay, Y. (2023). The effect of using digital stories in primary school language lessons on 4th grade students/ reading comprehension skills. Anadolu Journal of Educational Sciences International. https://web.archive.org/web/20230814102535id_/https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/3067429    
  32. Lastiri, L. (2022). What are the levels of comprehension. https://irisreading.com/what-are-the-levels-of-comprehension/
  33. McLeod, S. (2025). Albert Bandura’s learning theory. https://www.simplypsychology.org/bandura.html#What-is-Social-Learning-Theory   
  34. McLeod, S. (2022). Piaget’s stages of cognitive development: background and key concepts of Piaget’s theory. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/piaget.html   
  35. Pastera, JM. (2024). Learners’ reading strategies and comprehension Volume: 7 Issue:5. International Journal of Science and Management Studies. https://www.ijsmsjournal.org/2024/-7%20issue-5/ijsms-v7i5p104.pdf   
  36. Reamy, A.T. (2020). What effect does the claim-evidence-reasoning framework have on teaching and learning in a middle school classroom. https://scholarworks.montana.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/f48e002e-350a-47d1-a9c3-6d2f9b31a5df/content   
  37. Rebollos, E. & Rebollos, NML. (2024). Predictors affecting reading comprehension of students: developing an intervention program. International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Studies; Volume IV. https://www.ijams-bbp.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/5-IJAMS-MAY-2024-121-140.pdf     
  38. Samosa, R. (2021). Effectiveness of claim, evidence, and reasoning as an innovation to develop students’ scientific argumentative writing skills. Journal of Multidimensional Research & Review. https://jmrr.org/V2I1/V2I1P01.pdf  
  39. Sibanda, M., Dippenaar, H., & Swart, A. (2024). The teacher’s role in teaching reading comprehension skills to Grade 9 English home language learners. Reading & Writing. Journal of the Literacy Association of South Africa, v15, no.1.             https://eric.ed.gov/?q=Comprehension&ft=on&id=EJ1447507
  40. Skaric, H. & Salhab, M. (2024). The impact of reading children’s cognitive language development. https://mapub.org/ojs/index.php/mapeh/article/view/117/168      
  41. Soysal, T. (2022). The relationship of reading attitude with reading speed and reading comprehension. Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research, V17, N3, 2022. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1363084.pdf 
  42. Suson, R., Baratbate, C., Anoos, W., Ermac, E., Aranas, A.G., Malabago, N., Galamiton, N. & Capuyan, D. (2020). Differentiated instructions for basic reading comprehension in Philippine settings. Universal Journal of Educational Research. https://twilight-mountain-97.linkyhost.com/
  43. Tighe, E., Kaldes, G., & McNamara, D. (2023). The role of inferencing in struggling adult readers’ comprehension of different texts: a mediation analysis. Learning and Individual Differences, v102. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1041608023000134 
  44. Valdez, S.J., Esteban, J., Vinluan, J., Ramat, G., & De Guzman, M.P. (2023). Reading as valued by Filipino secondary students: its role in life. International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Studies, v3, issue 7. https://www.ijams-bbp.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/1-IJAMS-JULY-2023-178-184.pdf  
  45. Williams, L. (2021). Using claim evidence reasoning in Science instruction. https://teachingscience.us/claim-evidencereasoning/#:~:text=The%20claim-evidencereasoning%20model%20provides%20students%20with%20an%20objective%2C,for%20further%20investigation%20of%20the%20topic%20at%20hand.?FMT=AI