ERIC Number: EJ1041188
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Oct
Pages: 23
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-1688
EISSN: N/A
The Multi-Feature Hypothesis: Connectionist Guidelines for L2 Task Design
Moonen, Machteld; de Graaff, Rick; Westhoff, Gerard; Brekelmans, Mieke
Language Teaching Research, v18 n4 p474-496 Oct 2014
This study focuses on the effects of task type on the retention and ease of activation of second language (L2) vocabulary, based on the multi-feature hypothesis (Moonen, De Graaff, & Westhoff, 2006). Two tasks were compared: a writing task and a list-learning task. It was hypothesized that performing the writing task would yield higher retention and ease of activation of the target words than performing the list task. Translation tests and picture description tests were used to measure acquisition of the target vocabulary. Think-aloud protocols were used to study task performance. Results show that the writing group significantly outperformed the list group on both test types and on both direct and delayed tests. These findings are discussed in the light of task design characteristics and the issue of time on task.
Descriptors: Guidelines, Task Analysis, Time on Task, Second Language Learning, Vocabulary Development, Protocol Analysis, Linguistic Theory, Retention (Psychology), Language Tests, Word Lists, Writing (Composition), Translation, Comparative Analysis, Pictorial Stimuli, Foreign Countries, Secondary School Students, Quasiexperimental Design, Pretests Posttests
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Netherlands
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A