A CORRELATIONAL STUDY BETWEEN INTERESTING
TOPIC OF READING TEXT AND STUDENTS’ ABILITY
IN READING COMPREHENSION

Meiga Ratih Tirtanawati
Program Studi Pendidikan Bhs Inggris, IKIP PGRI Bojonegoro
email: meigaratihtirtanawati@gmail.com

Abstrack
The objectives of the study are : (1) to find ; (2) vocabulary mastery and listening skill.
The method used in this study was a correlation study. The population in this study was
all the third semester of English Dept. IKIP PGRi Bojonegoro which consisted of two
classes. The total number of the students was 84 students. The sample was 42 students
taken by cluster random sampling technique. The instrument in collecting the data was
questionnaire and tests. The questionnaire was used to collect the data of interesting
topic of reading; while the objective tests were used to collect the data of students’
ability in reading comprehension. The techniques which were used to analyze the data
were pearson product moment and multiple correlations. The results of this study show
that (1) there is a significant correlation between the questionnaire scores’ of interesting
topic and the scores of reading test (rx1y = 0.417 > rt is 0.304. The result of this research
shows that interesting topic of reading are important variables for students’ ability in
reading comprehension.
Keywords: interesting topic, reading comprehension.
Abstrak
Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menemukan korelasi antara topik yang menarik
dari bacaan teks dan pemahaman bacaan siswa. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian
ini adalah penelitian korelasional. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah semua semester
ketiga Jurusan Bahasa Inggris IKIP PGRI Bojonegoro yang terdiri dari dua kelas.
Jumlah siswa adalah 84 siswa. Sampel penelitian adalah 42 siswa yang diambil dengan
teknik cluster random sampling. Instrumen dalam mengumpulkan data adalah kuesioner
dan tes. Kuesioner digunakan untuk mengumpulkan data topik bacaan yang menarik;
sedangkan tes objektif digunakan untuk mengumpulkan data kemampuan siswa dalam
pemahaman membaca. Teknik yang digunakan untuk menganalisis data adalah momen
produk pearson dan korelasi ganda. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa ada korelasi
yang signifikan antara skor kuesioner topik menarik dan skor tes membaca (r= 0,417)>
rt adalah 0,304. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa topik membaca yang menarik
adalah variabel penting bagi kemampuan siswa dalam pemahaman membaca.
Kata Kunci: topic menarik, pemahaman bacaan.

1550

Meiga Ratih Tirtanawati, A Correlational Study...

Communication is the essential function of
language. It means that language is used to send
message from one person to another. It indicates
that language is quite important for our life.
English language as a foreign language plays
important role for us. Since it is not only used
as one as one of international language but it is
also as a compulsory subject in Indonesia that
must be mastered by the students. Therefore,
teaching learning orientation in English is
based on function, which is also well known as
communication approach.
In 2013 curriculum it is stated that the
main objective of English instruction is to
develop the students’ ability to read. It is also
stated that English consist of five components
namely; grammar, reading, speaking, writing
and listening. In fact, the teaching English is
emphasized more on reading comprehension.
Reading is very important in our life. We
read, newspaper,magazine, or books either for
pleasure or for getting information. When we
go out of our house, reading are more urgently
needed, otherwise we will easily get lost. And due
to the rapid development of science, technology,
social, etc., especially in communication, it
seems that the world becomes smaller. Therefore,
reading skill in modern society becomes a need
which cannot be postponed any longer.
Sienta (2014) views reading as the
meaningful interpretation of printed or written
verbal symbols. He adds that the interpretation is
a resultof the interaction between the perception
of graphic symbols that represent language and
the reader’s language skill, cognitive skill and
knowledge of the world. In line with Ana M
Mistral (2015:2), states that highly interesting
reading text that has been judged as important
to the reader’s goal will receive maximum
processing and persistence. Reading text that
address the experiences, interesting content, and
background knowledge of students may receive
maximum attention and are judged easy to read
regardless of the cognitive demands of their
content.
As well as motivation affects the process
and outcome of learning, interest which is in a
sense may be considered as the actual motivation,
affects learning. The quality of interest of a
student can determine whether the students will

1551

sustain their absorption, in turn will affect the
outcome of learning the subject or an activity.
METHOD
Research design is a plan or program
made by a researcher, as the activity target that
will be done (Suharsimi, 2002: 45). There are
several types of studies that may be classified
as descriptive research design with the type of
correctional study, Donald Ary (1985:327) says
that:
“Correlation studies are concerned with
determining the extent of relationship
between variables. They enable one to
measure the extent to which variations in
one variable are associated with variations
in determined trough the use of the
coefficient of correlation”.
In this case, the writer wanted to correlate
between interesting topic of reading and
their abilities in reading comprehension.
According to (Suharsimi, 2002:98):
“A variable is defined as something
that varies from one case to another.
The dependent variable is variable
which one observes and measures to
determine the effect of the independent
variable. Independent variable (the
major variable) is the variable which is
selected manipulated and measured by the
researcher (Suharsimi, 2002:98).”
In this research there were two variables,
they are: independent variable (X) and
dependent variable (Y). Independent variable is
a variable that is presumed to influence another
variable. Dependent variable is a category that
is influenced by another category or that is the
consequent (Kerlinger, 1979:21). In this research
the dependent variable is interesting topic of
reading text (X) and the independent variable is
students’ reading comprehension (Y).
The writer focuses on third semester of
English Department Students at IKIP PGRI
Bojonegoro, academic year 2017/2018. There are
two classes, class A and class B. The research
involves 42 students for the sample of this
research.
The required data and information
would be obtained from two main sources,

Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan, Volume 10, Nomor 2, Desember 2018, hlm. 1550-1553

rxy =

{N ∑ X 2 − (∑ X )2 }{N ∑ Y 2 − (∑Y )2}
(Suharsimi, 2002:146)

If rxy > r table, it means that the test is valid
with the significant degree 5 %.
Where:
R

∑xy
∑X
∑Y

∑X2

: correlation coefficient
variable X and Y

of

: the sum of the products of X and Y
scores for each students
: the sum of X scores
: the sum of Y scores

(∑X) 2
(∑Y) 2

: the Sum of square of students’
mastery in vocabulary score
: the sum of square of student’s ability
in reading comprehension
score
: the sum of the squared X scores
: the sum of the squared X scores

N

: the total of respondents

∑Y2

FINDING AND DISCUSSION
The data of the students’ interest in
reading text (X) and the students’ reading
comprehension test (Y) are shown in the
questionnaire scores and reading comprehension
test scores. The data (questionnaire) on this

Variable

The interesting
topic of reading
text and students’
ability in reading
comprehension

0,417 0,304

conclusion

N ∑ XY − (∑ X )(∑Y )

problem are shown as a reason why the students
are interested in Entertainment topic entitled
Matric Reloaded. From the various answer or
reasons of the students, it can be concluded
2 categories or classification of aspects that
interest the students. They are : 1). The topic
of the text is considered to be important or
interesting. 2) The topic has relevance to the
students’ interest or hobby. Below are students’
opinion or reasons of choosing Entertainment
topic as an interesting text for them: 1)
Entertainment topic is interesting, 2) There are
many kinds of entertainment, it will not boring
and it can also increase students knowledge about
entertainment reading text, 3) They can get the
newest news of public figure from all overthe
world, 4) Entertainment can make students feel
relaxed and enjoyed, so they do not get stresses
easily, 5) Most of students hobbies are reading
informations about their favourite artist.
After the analysis using the descriptive
statistic, the results are 104 for the total scores
of students interest in reading text (∑X), 190 for
the total scores of reading test (∑Y), 320 for the
total quadrant of students interest in reading text
(∑X2), 902 for the total quadrant of students’
reading comprehension test (∑Y2), and 492 for
the total multiplication of X and Y (∑XY).
Hypothesis deal with the finding out of the
relationship of the two interval scale variables.
The pearson product moment correlation
formula is used to find the degree of relationship.
According to pearson product moment table of
significance, the coefficient value of 0,05 (5%)
is 0,304.
At 0,05 (5%)

i.e.: Library Research, questionnaire and
reading comprehension test. Library research
refers to the activity of using library
facilities. The data and information were
obtained through source books on related
subject matters. The questionnaire tries to
measure the students’interest in the text
through the students’perception or opinion
of reading text. A reading comprehension
test is the other instrument used to measure
the students’reading comprehension. The test
consist of 3 different topics of reading text,
they are Entertainment, Health, and Sport.
To measure and to show the degree of
relationship of the two variables investigated,
this research uses correlational statistics. It
is calculated with the formula of Pearson’s
product moment correlation. The formula is
as follows:

The obtained
pearson

1552

(Hi) is
accepted

The table showing the coefficient obtained
and value of product moment coefficient is 0,417
at the 0,05 level. If the obtained value of the
correlation coefficient is equal or higher than
coefficient value at total samples (N) 42 students,

Meiga Ratih Tirtanawati, A Correlational Study...

the obtained correlation coefficient can be said
to be significant, the Null Hypothesis (Ho) is
rejected and accept the alternative Hypothesis.
This research success to give an evidence that
there is a significant positive correlation between
the interesting topic of reading text and students’
reading comprehension.
A research in which the alternative
hypothesis is accepted, try to give a description
of the variables investigated without doing any
manipulation or control to the independent
variables. Accordingly, this research was
conducted in a natural condition. Besides, this
research found another variable that play much
in this research and influence the independent
variable. The variable mean here are the other
students’interest which are related to the
students’ interest of reading text, such as interest
in learning activity, reading activity and their
attitude in the class. The result of this study is in
line with the statement of Snow & Corno (2006)
who say that The high-interest learner may gain
a deeper misunderstanding. It can be seen if they
show more elaborated assosiative structure and
less restriction to task-specific strategies. The
high-interest learner can also more personal
emotional-quality to the knowledge network.
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

CONCLUSIONS

After conducting the research, the writer
comes to her conclusions that the emphasis of the
English syllabus on reading skill has urged the
teacher to use reading as frequently as possible
so that the students have more opportunity to
practice and increase their reading skill. It is
also points out the importance of students’
motivation. This implicitly also demands
the teachers participation in maintaining and
promoting students motivation by providing
them interesting reading text.
Based on the study result, the research
uses a questionnaire to identify the students’
reason in choosing topics and reading test to
measure the students interest ofreading test and
their reading comprehension. By using pearson
product moment correlation coefficient formula,
the degree of relationship of the variable
investigated in this research is r = 0,417. After

1553

undergoing a hypothesis testing this value give
evidence to reject the nullhypothesis.
SUGGESTIONS
This study tries to offer some suggestions,
they are: To get a good mastery in reading
comprehension, the students need to know what
topic which is interesting for them, teacher
should provide the reading text which contain
an important or interesting topic or relevant
topic to the students’ interest or hobbies, teacher
should know and can create their own interesting
text by considering the rule of present English
Syllabus.
REFERENCES

Anthony M, Edward and Richards C, Jack.
1974. Reading: Insights and Approaches.
Singapore: University Press for SEAMEO
Regional English language Center.
Arikunto, Suharsimi. 2002. Prosedur Penelitian
Suatu Pendekatan Praktek. Jakarta: PT
Asdi Mahasatya
Ary, Donald. 2000. Introduction to Research in
Education. Orlando, Florida: Rinehart and
Winston
Byrnes, James. 2006. Cognitive Development
and Learningin Instructional Context.
Needham, MA: Allym and Bacon.
Creswell, W. John. 1994. Research Design
Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches.
United States of America: SAGE
Publications
Hornby,A S.1995. Oxford Advanced Learner’s
Dictionary of Current English.Oxford
New York: Oxford Pers University
Sienta, Elisabeth Maya. Identification Of
Difficulties In Readingauthentic Text
Among Sixth And Eight Semester
Language Education Program Students.
Unpublished Bachelor Thesis,Yogyakarta:
Sanata Dharma Universities.
Simanjuntak, Edithia Gloria. 1988. Developing
Reading Skills for EFL Students.Jakarta:
Depdikbud.
Sudjana. 2002. Metode Statistika. Bandung:
Trasito