An Experimental Study on the Impact of a Training Program on the Development of Perceived Cognitive Competence among Students with Learning Disabilities

Aims: This paper aims to examine the relationship between a training program designed for students
with learning disabilities and their perceived competence. There is special emphasis on educational,
social, and moral issues related to children with special needs who are being educated in regular
schools. The research investigates the strong need for detecting the obstacles hindering Jordanian
students, especially those at the early stages, who are continually require intensive care and
attention.
It is obvious that students with different disabilities need to attain special training programs and
individualized and adequate treatment. The first step in learning and participating in different activities
is the cognitive competence of students which they receive from different sources.
Study Design: The study used a quasi-experimental design.
Place and Duration of Study: Ministry of Education in the Jerash District, in Jordan.
Methodology: The current research adopted a self-report instrument “Perceived Competence Scale
for Children” [1] as the main tool. The study sample consisted of 26 fourth-grade students (13 male
and 13 female) with learning disabilities who joined the resource rooms. The samples were distributed
among eight schools. The instrument was modified by Sheikha to cope with the Jordanian
environment and the unique societal traits. In order to achieve the research objectives and answer the
research questions, the current research employed the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) on the
control group prior to the employment of the training program. This type of analysis was employed to
test the DIFFERENCES in the students’ with learning disabilities performance prior to the employment
of the training program and in a later stage. Additionally the mean and the standard deviation were
employed to detect variations between the experimental and the control group.
Results: The results showed that there were no statistically significant differences among the
students with learning disabilities performance due to gender. The mean values also indicated that the
students with learning disabilities cognitive competence signaled obvious differences in the
performance of the students after conducting the training program on the experimental group. The
result of the study indicated that the developed training program was useful for students with
disabilities. The students who attended this special training program acquired cognitive competence
to continue their studies and participated in different activities.