An investigation of L2 reading comprehension of linear texts and hypertexts and working memory capacity

Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Comunicação e Expressão. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Letras/Inglês e Literatura Correspondente.O objetivo desse estudo foi investigar a leitura em L2 (Inglês), em textos apresentados de formas distintas: como texto linear e como hipertexto, para verificar possíveis diferenças na compreensão resultante. A razão para tal escrutino reside no fato da divergência encontrada, na literatura, a respeito dos efeitos da não linearidade para o processamento das informações e, conseqüentemente, para a compreensão de textos (Dillon, 1996; Smith, 1994; Charney; 1994; McKnight, Dillon & Richardson, 1993). Para alcançar os objetivos propostos, dois textos, com características similares, foram elaborados e apresentados como hipertextos e como textos lineares. Quatro perguntas de pesquisa e quatro hipóteses foram criadas para essa investigação, e três diferentes instrumentos de coleta foram utilizados: (a) evocações das idéias principais, (b) questionários com perguntas de compreensão e (c) contradições. Além desses instrumentos de coleta, foi também utilizada uma versão do teste de leitura desenvolvido por Daneman e Carpenter (1980) e adaptado por Torres (2003), considerando-se a hipótese da relação direta entre a amplitude da memória e a performance em atividades envolvendo a compreensão (Tomitch, 2005; Torres, 2003, Engle, Kane, & Tuholsky, 1999; Daneman & Capernter, 1980). Quarenta e duas pessoas participaram do estudo: 21 brasileiros recrutados em duas universidades brasileiras (Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina e Universidade Estadual de Maringá) e 21 chineses recrutados na Inglaterra (Loughborough University). Os resultados obtidos sinalizam para o fato de que os hipertextos podem comprometer a compreensão, principalmente para os leitores de baixa amplitude de memória. Dados inesperados foram obtidos em relação aos chineses que apresentaram uma amplitude de memória inferior a dos brasileiros, conseqüentemente, apresentando um pior desempenho. A conclusão fundamental obtida nesse estudo é que diferentes variáveis tais como a capacidade de memória do leitor, sua língua materna, e o modo de apresentação de um texto podem influenciar na leitura em L2, e cada uma dessas varáveis pode interferir, de modo diferente, na construção da representação mental do texto. The aim of this study was to investigate L2 reading (English) derived from texts presented in two different modes, as a linear text and as a hypertext, in order to verify possible differences in comprehension. The reason for such scrutiny resides in the fact that different standpoints can be found in the literature about the effects nonlinear texts can cause for processing, achieving coherence and thus, building a mental representation (Dillon, 1996; Smith, 1994; Charney, 1994, McKnight, Dillon & Richardson, 1993). In order to achieve the objectives proposed here, two texts, having similar characteristics, were designed and presented as hypertexts and as linear texts. Four research questions and hypotheses framed this investigation, and three different instruments were used to collect the data: recall of main propositions, comprehension questions and contradictions. In addition to these instruments, a modified version of the original Daneman and Carpenter's (1980) reading span test developed by Torres (2003) was applied, considering the assumption that there is a relationship between participants' performance and their working memory spans (Tomitch, 2005, Torres, 2003, Engle, Kane & Tuholsky, 1999; Daneman & Capenter, 1980). Forty-two participants from two nationalities (21 Brazilians and 21 Chinese) and from different universities (Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Univerisdade Estadual de Maringá, and Loughborough University, UK) participated in this study. The results obtained signal to the fact that hypertexts might compromise comprehension, especially, for low-span participants. An unexpected outcome was obtained in relation to the Chinese participants who presented lower working memory spans compared to the Brazilian group, and therefore, presented lower performance. The broad conclusion achieved here is that different variables such as readers' working memory capacity, their first language, and the mode of text presentation may interfere in L2 reading, and each one of theses characteristics might hamper, in different ways, in the construction of a coherent mental representation

Digital Hypertexts vs. Traditional Books: An Inquiry Into Non-Linearity

The current study begins with an awareness that today’s media environment is characterized by technological development and a new way of reading caused by the introduction of the Internet. The researcher conducted a meta analysis framed within Technological Determinism to investigate the process of hypertext reading, its differences from linear reading and the effects such differences can have on people’s ways of mentally structuring their world. The relationship between literacy and the comprehension achieved by reading hypertexts is also investigated. The results show hypertexts are not always user friendly. People experience hyperlinks as interruptions that distract their attention generating comprehension and disorientation. On one hand, hypertextual jumping reading generates interruptions that finally make people lose their concentration. On the other hand, hypertexts fascinate people who would rather read a document in such a format even though the outcome is often frustrating and affects their ability to elaborate and retain information

Anaphora Resolution and Text Retrieval

Empirical approaches based on qualitative or quantitative methods of corpus linguistics have become a central paradigm within linguistics. The series takes account of this fact and provides a platform for approaches within synchronous linguistics as well as interdisciplinary works with a linguistic focus which devise new ways of working empirically and develop new data-based methods and theoretical models for empirical linguistic analyses

Classroom Research and the Digital Learning Media

Udostępnienie publikacji Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego finansowane w ramach projektu „Doskonałość naukowa kluczem do doskonałości kształcenia”. Projekt realizowany jest ze środków Europejskiego Funduszu Społecznego w ramach Programu Operacyjnego Wiedza Edukacja Rozwój; nr umowy: POWER.03.05.00-00-Z092/17-00

Anaphora Resolution and Text Retrieval

Empirical approaches based on qualitative or quantitative methods of corpus linguistics have become a central paradigm within linguistics. The series takes account of this fact and provides a platform for approaches within synchronous linguistics as well as interdisciplinary works with a linguistic focus which devise new ways of working empirically and develop new data-based methods and theoretical models for empirical linguistic analyses

Integrating information seeking and information structuring: spatial hypertext as an interface to the digital library.

Information seeking is the task of finding documents that satisfy the information needs of a person or organisation. Digital Libraries are one means of providing documents to meet the information needs of their users - i.e. as a resource to support information seeking. Therefore, research into the activity of information seeking is key to the development and understanding of digital libraries. Information structuring is the activity of organising documents found in the process of information seeking. Information structuring can be seen as either part of information seeking, or as a sepárate, complementary activity. It is a task performed by the seeker themselves and targeted by them to support their understanding and the management of later seeking activity. Though information structuring is an important task, it receives sparse support in current digital library Systems. Spatial hypertexts are computer software Systems that have been specifically been developed to support information structuring. However, they seldom are connected to Systems that support information seeking. Thus to day, the two inter-related activities of information seeking and information structuring have been supported by disjoint computer Systems. However, a variety of research strongly indicates that in physical environments, information seeking and information structuring are closely inter-related activities. Given this connection, this thesis explores whether a similar relationship can be found in electronic information seeking environments. However, given the absence of a software system that supports both activities well, there is an immédiate practical problem. In this thesis, I introduce an integrated information seeking and structuring System, called Garnet, that provides a spatial hypertext interface that also supports information seeking in a digital library. The opportunity of supporting information seeking by the artefacts of information structuring is explored in the Garnet system, drawing on the benefits previously found in supporting one information seeking activity with the artefacts of another. Garnet and its use are studied in a qualitative user study that results in the comparison of user behaviour in a combined electronic environment with previous studies in physical environments. The response of participants to using Garnet is reported, particularly regarding their perceptions of the combined system and the quality of the interaction. Finally, the potential value of the artefacts of information structuring to support information seeking is also evaluated

Artificial intelligence as writing: knowledge-based hypertext systems as a medium for communication

This thesis is an exploration of a new metaphor for artificial intelligence (AI). Traditionally, the computer within AI has been viewed as an agent, one with which the user engages in a conversation. More recently certain researchers have proposed the notion that artificial intelligence (and indeed computing in general) can be more appropriately seen as a form of writing. Initially this thesis reviews the literature in this area, and aspects of AI which support the approach. Features of writing are then described which show parallels with AI. This then allows us to take lessons from the history and development of both traditional writing and the new computer-based writing systems to inform the design of a new type of artificial intelligence system. A design based on these features, called Running Texts is presented through a number of small examples. Issues that arise from these and possible future developments, based on the implementation are then discussed. A rationale for users choosing to learn a system such as Running Texts is proposed, as benefits from the psychological and social implications of writing can be applied to AI systems, when they are seen as writing. The same parallels point out potential problems, and suggest new ways to see the relation between AI and thought