The Role of Information-Maintenance Efficiency in Advanced ESL Reading Comprehension

Abstract

This study investigated the role of information-maintenance efficiency in L2 reading comprehension as performed by adult Japanese ESL learners. Specifically, the study examined the relationship between violation-detection performance for ungrammatical / anomalous stimuli, using experimental paradigm of self-paced reading task, and L2 reading proficiency scored by multiple-choice comprehension test. The results revealed a highly significant main effect between the two variables, suggesting information-maintenance efficiency play a vital role in predicting overall L2 reading performance. The concept of working memory capacity is included in the framework of the study, particularly in terms of speculating the actual form of information maintenance within the theoretical construct of working memory. Pedagogical implications for L2 reading instruction are also discussed in relation to the potential form of information maintenance and the limited amount of resource in working memory capacity.