The relationship between vocabulary knowledge and L2 reading/listening comprehension: A meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
pp. 136216882091399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Songshan Zhang ◽  
Xian Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Text Comprehension ◽  
Listening Comprehension ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
L2 Reading ◽  
Vocabulary Depth ◽  
L2 Listening ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
L2 Reading Comprehension

This study set out to investigate the relationship between L2 vocabulary knowledge (VK) and second-language (L2) reading/listening comprehension. More than 100 individual studies were included in this meta-analysis, which generated 276 effect sizes from a sample of almost 21,000 learners. The current meta-analysis had several major findings. First, the overall correlation between VK and L2 reading comprehension was .57 ( p < .01) and that between VK and L2 listening was .56 ( p < .01). If the attenuation effect due to reliability of measures was taken into consideration, the ‘true’ correlation between VK and L2 reading/listening comprehension may likely fall within the range of .56–.67, accounting for 31%–45% variance in L2 comprehension. Second, all three mastery levels of form–meaning knowledge (meaning recognition, meaning recall, form recall) had moderate to high correlations with L2 reading and L2 listening. However, meaning recall knowledge had the strongest correlation with L2 reading comprehension and form recall had the strongest correlation with L2 listening comprehension, suggesting that different mastery levels of VK may contribute differently to L2 comprehension in different modalities. Third, both word association knowledge and morphological awareness (two aspects of vocabulary depth knowledge) had significant correlations with L2 reading and L2 listening. Fourth, the modality of VK measure was found to have a significant moderating effect on the correlation between VK and L2 text comprehension: orthographical VK measures had stronger correlations with L2 reading comprehension as compared to auditory VK measures. Auditory VK measures, however, were better predictors of L2 listening comprehension. Fifth, studies with a shorter script distance between L1 and L2 yielded higher correlations between VK and L2 reading. Sixth, the number of items in vocabulary depth measures had a positive predictive power on the correlation between VK and L2 comprehension. Finally, correlations between VK and L2 reading/listening comprehension was found to be associated with two types of publication factors: year-of-publication and publication type. Implications of the findings were discussed.

The relationship between three measures of L2 vocabulary knowledge and L2 listening and reading

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junyu Cheng ◽  
Joshua Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Reading Scores ◽  
Knowledge Test ◽  
L2 Reading ◽  
Chinese Learners ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
L2 Listening ◽  
L2 Vocabulary ◽  
The Relationship

This study explores the constructs that underpin three different measures of vocabulary knowledge and investigates the degree to which these three measures correlate with, and are able to predict, measures of second language (L2) listening and reading. Word frequency structured vocabulary tests tapping receptive/orthographic (RecOrth) vocabulary knowledge, productive/orthographic (ProOrth) vocabulary knowledge and productive/phonological (ProPhon) vocabulary knowledge and tests measuring L2 listening and L2 reading were administered to 250 tertiary-level Chinese learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). Results showed that ProPhon vocabulary knowledge correlated most strongly with L2 listening ( r = .71) and ProOrth vocabulary knowledge correlated most strongly with L2 reading ( r = .57). Factor analysis indicated that all subcomponents of the ProPhon vocabulary knowledge test loaded onto one factor and those of the RecOrth and ProOrth vocabulary knowledge tests loaded onto another. Regression modelling showed that ProPhon vocabulary knowledge explained 51% of the variance in L2 listening scores and that ProOrth vocabulary knowledge explained 33% of the variance in the L2 reading scores. Discussion addresses the varying importance of different dimensions of vocabulary knowledge in L2 listening and reading.

A meta-analysis of the relationship between working memory and second language reading comprehension: Does task type matter?

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 873-900
Author(s):  
Jihye Shin
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Second Language ◽  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Quantitative Description ◽  
Span Task ◽  
Word Recall ◽  
Reading Span ◽  
L2 Reading ◽  
L2 Reading Comprehension

AbstractDespite the increasing attention paid to the role of working memory in reading, findings and measurement of working memory have been inconsistent. The current meta-analysis aims to provide a quantitative description of the overall relationship between second language (L2) reading comprehension and working memory measured through reading span task and identify methodological features that moderate this relationship. Following a comprehensive search, 25 primary studies (23 peer-reviewed studies and 2 dissertations) were included comprising 37 unique samples (N = 2,682), all of which were coded for substantive and methodological features. The results showed that (a) there is a moderate relationship between L2 reading comprehension and working memory (r = .30), (b) reading span task features such as the scoring procedure, task language, and final word recall order moderate this relationship, and (c) the degree to which working memory’s involvement in L2 reading comprehension may vary depending on the type of reading tasks at hand. Implications are discussed in terms of conceptualization and measurement of working memory. Future directions are also offered in relation to measurement practices to encourage consistency and to improve our understanding of the link between working memory and L2 reading comprehension.

L2 Reading Comprehension and Its Correlates: A Meta-Analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 160-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eun Hee Jeon ◽  
Junko Yamashita
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
L2 Reading ◽  
L2 Reading Comprehension

The Effect of Perceived Interest and Prior Knowledge on L2 Reading Comprehension via Several Assessment Methods in a Higher Education Context

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 52
Author(s):  
Ana Cristina Lahuerta Martínez
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Prior Knowledge ◽  
Multiple Choice ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Multiple Choice Questions ◽  
L2 Reading ◽  
Assessment Tasks ◽  
Written Recall ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
L2 Reading Comprehension

The aim of the present study is to examine the effect of perceived interest and prior knowledge on EFL reading comprehension. Participants were 227 undergraduates with advanced competence in English. With respect to the method, participants had to read a 450-word text entitled Wales. After that, they had to complete a Perceived Interest Questionnaire (PIQ), which consisted of 9 items and two assessment tasks: a written recall and a multiple choice task. The results of our study show the significant effect of perceived interest and prior knowledge on L2 reading comprehension. Thus, comprehension assessed via written recall and multiple choice questions had higher scores when readers read texts related to their interests. Besides, prior knowledge had a positive effect on the reader’s comprehension irrespective of the assessment method used. This study concludes that different assessment tasks may be crucial factors that affect the relationship between factors like interest and prior knowledge, and L2 reading comprehension.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Perceptual Learning Styles and Reading Comprehension Performance of Iranian EFL Learners

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milad Chavosh ◽  
Mohammad Davoudi
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Learning Styles ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Perceptual Learning ◽  
Learning Style ◽  
L2 Reading ◽  
Perceptual Learning Styles ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
L2 Reading Comprehension

<p>Reading comprehension is one of the most important aspects in the process of language learning. Individual differences in foreign language learning have also been a common theme among L2 researchers and various factors such as gender, aptitude, motivation, and learning styles have been the subject of numerous studies indicating their effect on language learning. Along the same lines, this study focused on the relationship between perceptual learning styles and L2 reading comprehension and how well each perceptual learning style contributes to L2 reading comprehension. The study was carried out on 60 Iranian foreign language learners. The results of statistical analyses indicated that only tactile and kinesthetic learning styles had a significant relationship with L2 reading comprehension performance. Moreover, the findings of the study revealed that the tactile learning style was the best predictor of L2 reading comprehension performance. Based on the findings of the study, it can be concluded that teachers should try to accommodate different learning styles in teaching reading comprehension. If the educational settings become compatible with the learners’ personal orientations, learners may be able to engage in educational activities more and will thus gain an advantage in learning.</p>

scholarly journals Exploring the Relationship Between L2 Listening and Metacognition After Controlling for Vocabulary Knowledge

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 187-200
Author(s):  
Matthew P Wallace
Keyword(s):  
Listening Comprehension ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Metacognitive Awareness ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Strategic Knowledge ◽  
Metacognitive Skills ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
L2 Listening ◽  
The Relationship

Metacognition is known to be important for L2 listening comprehension. However, it is unclear how much variance in listening performance it can explain after controlling for vocabulary knowledge. To examine this, data from the listening section of the TOEFL Junior test, the Metacognitive Awareness Listening Questionnaire (MALQ), and the Listening Vocabulary Levels Test were collected from 76 high school EFL learners in Japan. The MALQ measured five subscales of metacognition representing metacognitive skills and metacognitive knowledge. Representing skills, the MALQ measured perceptions of the ability to (1) plan and evaluate performance, (2) direct attention, and (3) overcome listening problems. Representing knowledge, it measured strategic knowledge of (4) avoiding mentally translating speech and person knowledge of (5) maintaining positive attitudes about listening. The descriptive results showed that participants used their metacognition moderately. Of the subscales, they directed attention the most, planned and evaluated performance least, and perceived their ability to avoid mental translation, solve problems, and maintain optimism equivalently. The results from the hierarchical regression analysis further showed that vocabulary knowledge and metacognition overall predicted listening performance. Of the MALQ subscales, only person knowledge predicted comprehension. These findings indicate that, contrary to earlier findings, metacognition was important for listening comprehension after accounting for vocabulary knowledge.

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