Exploring Working Memory Capacity as an Independent Contributor to L2 Discourse Comprehension
Year: 2015
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether and how working memory capacity contributes to discourse comprehension in L2. Participants were 60 Korean college students of various academic backgrounds, and their working memory capacity was measured by a reading span task in L1 and L2. Their L2 knowledge and background knowledge were also measured to examine the relative contribution of working memory capacity to L2 reading. Major findings include the following: there was more overlap between L1 and L2 working memory capacity than between L2 working memory capacity and L2 knowledge, suggesting L2 working memory capacity would be more of memory capacity itself than of L2 knowledge; only composite working memory capacity significantly predicted L2 discourse comprehension, but not storage or processing component alone; composite working memory capacity proved to be an independent contributor to L2 discourse comprehension, though less powerful than knowledge variables.
Author: Jeongsoon Joh
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Konkuk University
OpenAlex ID: W2297385638