ERIC Number: EJ1462953
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jan
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-1539-0578
Available Date: 0000-00-00
The Role of Vocabulary Knowledge, Morphological Awareness, and Working Memory in Reading Comprehension
Reading in a Foreign Language, v37 n1 2025
A growing number of studies have focused on uncovering linguistic and cognitive skills predictive of reading comprehension. Vocabulary knowledge (VK) and morphological awareness (MA) are two important linguistic variables for reading comprehension. In contrast, working memory (WM) is an essential cognitive variable for reading comprehension. The current study mainly aims to examine the role of VK, MA, and WM in English as a foreign language (EFL) reading comprehension. A total of 396 learners in a foreign language context took a TOEIC reading test, a battery of three MA tests, two VK tests, and two WM tests. We found that (a) the Pearson correlation coefficients obtained for the variables of VK, MA, WM, and EFL reading comprehension were all positive and significant; and (b) the structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis revealed that VK was a stronger predictor than MA of EFL reading performance. Relevant implications are discussed based on the results.
Descriptors: Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Morphology (Languages), Short Term Memory, English (Second Language), Language Tests, Second Language Learning, Reading Tests, Correlation, Undergraduate Students, Foreign Countries
National Foreign Language Resource Center at University of Hawaii. 1859 East-West Road #106, Honolulu, HI 96822. e-mail: readfl@hawaii.edu; Web site: https://nflrc.hawaii.edu/rfl/
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: China
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Test of English for International Communication
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A