The Effects of Receiving Animal Assisted Therapy on the Self-Efficacy and Reading Fluency of Struggling Readers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of using animal-assisted therapy on the self-efficacy and reading fluency of struggling readers. The measurement tool used was Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Learning Skills (DIBELS) and the Elementary Reading Attitude Survey. This study used a pre-test/post-test design to measure the data collected from both instruments. Achievement gains were shown to be slightly higher in reading fluency for the experimental group shown in the post-test and a slightly less positive attitude towards reading at the end of the study. Research in this area should continue as there is very little information available regarding the use of animal-assisted therapy as a reading intervention.