ERIC Number: EJ1290239
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2209-3591
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Assessing Threshold Level of L2 Vocabulary Depth in Reading Comprehension and Incidental Vocabulary Learning
Ehsanzadeh, S. J.
Language Education & Assessment, v3 n1 p1-12 2020
This study measures the threshold level of depth of word knowledge in L2 incidental learning and reading comprehension. I administered the Word Associates Test (WAT; Read, 2004) to measure depth of word knowledge. Based on participants' scores on the WAT, they were divided into three proficiency groups: high proficiency (HP), intermediate proficiency (IP), and low proficiency (LP). As part of data collection, participants were also asked to read a short story and then complete items of the Vocabulary Knowledge Scale (VKS; Paribakht & Wesche, 1997) for the 30 chosen target words. To rate incidental vocabulary acquisition, I administered the VKS test with a repeated measure design in a period of one month. Results indicate that (a) the HPs gained more vocabulary by comparison than the IPs and the LPs, (b) the probabilistic threshold level for L2 incidental learning is from 85 to 135 out of 160 on WAT, and (c) no significant role of depth in reading comprehension has been confirmed.
Descriptors: Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary Development, Incidental Learning, Second Language Learning, English (Second Language), Knowledge Level, Language Proficiency, Undergraduate Students, College Entrance Examinations, Protocol Analysis, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Iran
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Graduate Record Examinations
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A