A development of online experiment method to explore the sentence production process: A case study of utilizing the Triple Task Technique

Abstract

This paper introduces an online experimental method, the Triple Task Technique, designed to elucidate the cognitive processes involved in text composition, and reports a study conducted using this method. Although the Triple Task Technique is an effective means of examining how writers allocate cognitive resources to planning, production, and revision during writing, it has not been applied in Japan. In this study, we conducted an online experiment employing the technique to investigate how providing an outline influences the writing process and the quality of narrative texts. The results showed no significant effect of the outline condition, but replicated the characteristic findings typically observed with the Triple Task Technique. These results suggest that the technique introduced in this paper can serve as a useful tool for investigating writing processes in Japan.