Effect of word associations on reading speed, recall, and guessing behavior on tests.

AbstractBuilding on the theoretical insights into the socio-cognitive approach to the study of interactions in which English is used as a lingua franca (ELF)), this paper reports on the idiosyncratic phenomenon that ELF speakers do not adhere to the norms of native speakers, but instead create their own particular word associations during the course of the interaction. Taking the verbs of speech talk, say, speak, and tell as examples, this study compares word associations from three corpora of native and non-native speakers. The findings of this study reveal that similar word associative patterns are produced and shared by ELF speech communities from different sociocultural backgrounds, and these differ substantially from those used by native English speakers. Idiom-like constructions such as say like, how to say, and speakin are developed and utilized by Asian and European ELF speakers. Based on these findings, this paper concludes that ELF speakers use the prefabricated expressions in the target language system only as references, and try to develop their own word associative patterns in ELF interactions. Moreover, the analysis of the non-literalness/metaphorical word associations of the verbs of speech in the Asian ELF corpus suggests that ELF speakers dynamically co-construct their shared common ground to derive non-literal/metaphorical meaning in actual situational context.

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The Wadden Sea as a National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site: Students’ Word Associations with These Two Conservation Designations

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13148006 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (14) ◽

pp. 8006

Author(s):

Till Schmäing ◽

Norbert Grotjohann

Keyword(s):

National Parks ◽

National Park ◽

Wadden Sea ◽

World Heritage ◽

World Heritage Site ◽

Unesco World Heritage ◽

Word Associations ◽

Heritage Site ◽

Unesco World Heritage Site ◽

Significant Difference

The Wadden Sea ecosystem is unique in many respects from a biological perspective. This is one reason why it is protected by national parks in Germany and by its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In biology didactics, there are only a few studies that focus on the Wadden Sea. This work investigates students’ word associations with the two stimulus words “national park” and “UNESCO World Heritage Site”. The survey was conducted among students living directly at the Wadden Sea and among students from the inland. The analysis of the identified associations (n = 8345) was carried out within the framework of a quantitative content analysis to be able to present and discuss the results on a group level. A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups. Overall, results showed that the students made subject-related associations as well as a large number of associations to both stimulus words that could be judged as non-subject-related. In some cases, a connection with the region of residence could be found, but this was not generally the case. Even students’ immediate residential proximity to the Wadden Sea is no guarantee that they have knowledge of the two considered protection terms.

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Post audio-visual biofeedback training visual functions and quality of life in paediatric idiopathic infantile nystagmus: A pilot study

European Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1177/1120672121991048 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 112067212199104

Author(s):

Monica Daibert-Nido ◽

Yulia Pyatova ◽

Michelle Markowitz ◽

Maryam Taheri-Shirazi ◽

Samuel N Markowitz

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Contrast Sensitivity ◽

Reading Speed ◽

Biofeedback Training ◽

Visual Functions ◽

Infantile Nystagmus ◽

Fixation Stability ◽

Better Than

Purpose: Biofeedback training (BT) was adapted to idiopathic infantile nystagmus syndrome (IINS) cases to enhance visual functions and quality of life (QoL). Methods: 10 patients (age 9 ± 3.2 years) treated with the audio-visual BT module of the MAIA microperimeter (Centervue, Padova, Italy) were assessed in two baseline visits and 1week post-BT (BT 80 min in total). The outcomes were distance and near binocular best corrected visual acuity (BBCVA), fixation stability, reading speed, contrast sensitivity, stereopsis and Children’s Visual Function Questionnaire. One-way repeated measured ANOVA and paired t-tests were used. Results: Distance BBCVA improved from 0.46 ± 0.21 and 0.43 ± 0.18 pre-BT to 0.33 ± 0.2 logMAR post-BT ( F (2,27) = 13.75, p = 0.0002). Post-BT was better than baseline ( p = 0.0001) and pre-BT ( p = 0.001). Near BBCVA improved from 0.23 ± 0.09 and 0.21 ± 0.14 pre-BT to 0.04 ± 0.08 post-BT (F (2,27) = 22.12, p = 0.000014), post-BT was better than baseline ( p = 0.0001) and pre-BT ( p = 0.0006). Stereopsis improved from 283 ± 338″ to 39 ± 32.2″ ( p = 0.04), contrast sensitivity from 0.26 ± 0.17 to 0.08 ± 0.12 log units ( p = 0.01), and reading speed improved from 74.7 ± 51.2 wpm to 104.7 ± 53.6 wpm ( p = 0.0006). Fixation stability improved from 33.6 ± 28.1 to 14.3 ± 10.1 sq. QoL increased from 23.8 ± 2.2 to 26.3 ± 2.3 units ( p = 0.001). Conclusion: BT benefited all visual functions and QoL in this pilot study, heralding a new possibility for Low Vision Rehabilitation in IINS.

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EFFECT OF MONOVISION CONTACT LENSES ON READING EYE MOVEMENTS, READING SPEED AND COMPREHENSION.

Optometry and Vision Science ◽

10.1097/00006324-200212001-00543 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 79 (Supplement) ◽

pp. 292

Author(s):

Sandy Johal ◽

Nazima Sangha ◽

Bradley Coffey ◽

Peter Bergenske ◽

Patrick Caroline

Keyword(s):

Eye Movements ◽

Contact Lenses ◽

Reading Speed

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Students’ Word Associations with Different Terms Related to the Wadden Sea: Does the Place of Residence (Coast or Inland) Have an Influence?

Education Sciences ◽

10.3390/educsci11060284 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 284

Author(s):

Till Schmäing ◽

Norbert Grotjohann

Keyword(s):

Wadden Sea ◽

Word Association ◽

Place Of Residence ◽

Word Associations ◽

Quantitative Content ◽

Visitation Frequency ◽

Written Form ◽

Free Word ◽

Different Levels ◽

Out Of School

This paper presents students’ word associations with terms regarding the Wadden Sea. A continuous free word-association method was used in which the students from secondary schools (n = 3119, average age: 13.54 years) reported their associations with the stimulus words Wadden Sea, mudflat hiking tour, and tides in written form. Data were collected from students living close to the Wadden Sea and from students living inland. We performed a quantitative content analysis including the corresponding formation of categories. In addition, students’ school, out-of-school with the class, and private experiences the Wadden Sea ecosystem were recorded. The study shows that not only subject-related concepts should be considered at different levels, but non-subject-related aspects as well. The associations of the inland and non-inland students are statistically significantly different. The Wadden Sea and its biome were found to be completely unknown to some students. Students’ school, out-of-school with the class, and private experiences of the wetlands are also very mixed, regarding their Wadden Sea visitation frequency, and surprisingly cannot be directly derived from their place of residence. This research makes an important contribution towards the design of future biology didactic studies on the Wadden Sea.

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