Measuring second language vocabulary knowledge using a temporal method

The present study addressed the role of speed as a factor in tests of second language (L2) vocabulary knowledge, presupposing that speed of performance is important in actual language use. Research questions were: (a) Do learners with a larger vocabulary size answer faster on an L2 vocabulary breadt...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Reading in a foreign language 2016-04, Vol.28 (1), p.118
Main Author: Tanabe, Masayuki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accuracy
Alternative Assessment
College Students
English (Second Language)
Foreign Countries
Japan
Japanese
Japanese language
Knowledge
Language Acquisition
Language Tests
Language use
Multiple Regression Analysis
Outcome Measures
Predictive Validity
Question answer sequences
Reaction Time
Reading comprehension
Reading Rate
Reading Tests
Second Language Learning
Second language reading
Test of English as a Foreign Language
Vocabulary Development
Vocabulary size
Vocabulary Skills
Word Frequency
Word Recognition
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Summary:The present study addressed the role of speed as a factor in tests of second language (L2) vocabulary knowledge, presupposing that speed of performance is important in actual language use. Research questions were: (a) Do learners with a larger vocabulary size answer faster on an L2 vocabulary breadth test than smaller vocabulary sized learners?; (b) Are there systematic increases in response time (RT) as word frequency decreases in an L2 vocabulary breadth test?; and (c) Do RTs of correct responses on an L2 vocabulary breadth test predict accurate and quick L2 reading? Participants were 24 Japanese university students. Results indicated that (a) vocabulary size facilitated lexical accessibility, (b) high frequency words were accessed more quickly but this was only observable after reaching a certain threshold of vocabulary size, and (c) vocabulary score (accuracy) alone was not associated with accurate and quick reading but vocabulary RT (accuracy + speed) was.
ISSN:1539-0578
1539-0578