The Process of Constructing Mental Representations: Investigating the Units of Inferences Activated in Japanese EFL Reading

• Project/Area Number: 21520632
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Foreign language education
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: USHIRO Yuji 筑波大学, 人文社会系, 教授 (60271722)
• Project Period (FY): 2009 – 2012
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2012)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,290,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥990,000); Fiscal Year 2012: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2011: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2010: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2009: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
• Keywords: リーディング / 読解プロセス / 心的表象 / 推論 / 状況モデル / 活性化 / 符号化 / 因果ネットワーク

Research Abstract

The present study aimed to identify the units of inferences activated by Japanese learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) in reading, and to examine the process by which they constructed coherent situation models through integrating inferences into their mental representations. The results of three experiments showed that Japanese EFL learners made bridging and predictive inferences and associated them with textbase understandings. Moreover, the process of constructing mental representations involved revising prior situation models into new ones by using these inferences. Evidence also demonstrated the effects of learner factors (e.g., proficiency, and higher-level and lower-level reading skills) and text factors (e.g., flashback and causal relatedness) on the course of reading processes. These findings suggest that teachers should carefully take into account EFL learners’ reading processes whenconstructing coherent understandings of texts in a classroom instruction.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Activation and encoding of bridging and predictive inferences in EFL reading comprehension. (2012)
  • Author(s): Ushiro, Y., Nahatame, S., Hasegawa, Y., Shimizu, H., Kimura, Y., Tanaka, Y., & Nakagawa, C.
  • Journal Title: The Japan Association of College English Teachers Journal Volume: 54 Pages: 33-52
  • NAID: 110009436822
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] How Japanese EFL readers revise their situation models: Focusing on reading skills and the causal structure of texts. (2012)
  • Author(s): Ushiro, Y., Hasegawa, Y., Nahatame, S., Shimizu, H., Takaki, S., Hamada, A., &Nakagawa, C.
  • Journal Title: Annual Review of English Language Education in Japan Volume: 23 Pages: 105-120
  • NAID: 110009603299
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] How Japanese EFL readers revise their situation models: Focusing on reading skills and the causal structure of texts (2012)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司 (他6名)
  • Journal Title: ARELE (Annual Review of English Language Education in Japan) Volume: 23 Pages: 105-120
  • NAID: 110009603299
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Activation and encoding of bridging and predictive inferences in EFL reading comprehension (2012)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司 (他6名)
  • Journal Title: JACET Journal (The Japan Association of College English Teachers) Volume: 54 Pages: 33-52
  • NAID: 110009436822
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] How Japanese EFL readers revise their situation models : Focusing on reading skills and the causal structure of texts (2012)
  • Author(s): Ushiro, Y., Hasegawa, Y., Nahatame, S., Shimizu, H., Takaki, S., Hamada, A., Nakagawa, C.
  • Journal Title: ARELE (Annual Review of English Language Education in Japan) Volume: 23 Pages: 105-120
  • NAID: 110009603299
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Activation and Encoding of Bridging and Predictive Inferences in EFL Reading Comprehension (2012)
  • Author(s): Ushiro, Y., Nahatame, S., Hasegawa, Y., Shimizu, H., Kimura, Y., Tanaka, Y., Nakagawa, C.
  • Journal Title: JACET JOURNAL Volume: 54 Pages: 33-52
  • NAID: 110009436822
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Effects of flashback on Japanese EFL readers' narrative comprehension. (2011)
  • Author(s): Ushiro, Y., Kai, A., Shimizu, H., Hoshino, Y., Nahatame, S., Hasegawa, Y., Yano, K., & Nakagawa, C.
  • Journal Title: Annual Review of English Language Education in Japan Volume: 22 Pages: 111-126
  • NAID: 110009425251
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Effects of flashback on Japanese EFL readers' narrative comprehension. (2011)
  • Author(s): Ushiro, Y., Kai, A., Shimizu, H., Hoshino, Y., Nahatame, S., Hasegawa, Y., Yano, K., Nakagawa, C.
  • Journal Title: ARELE (Annual Review of English Language Education in Japan) Volume: 22(印刷中)
  • NAID: 110009425251
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Disambiguation of homonyms by EFL readers: The effects of primary meaning and context interpretation. (2010)
  • Author(s): Ushiro, Y., Hoshino, Y., Shimizu, H., Kai, A., Nakagawa, C., Watanabe, F., & Takaki, S.
  • Journal Title: Annual Review of English Language Education in Japan Volume: 21 Pages: 161-170
  • NAID: 110008512406
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Effects of causal networks on on-line and off-line narrative comprehension among Japanese EFL readers. (2010)
  • Author(s): Ushiro, Y., Shimizu, H., Kai, A., Nakagawa, C., Takaki, S., Kobayashi, M., Satake, N., & Takano, D.
  • Journal Title: The Japan Association of College English Teachers Journal Volume: 51 Pages: 39-53
  • NAID: 110008607623
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Effects of causal networks on on-line and off-line narrative comprehension among Japanese EFL readers. (2010)
  • Author(s): Ushiro, Y., Shimizu, H., Kai. A., Nakagawa, C., Takaki, S., Kobayashi, M., Satake, N., Takano, D.
  • Journal Title: JACET JOURNAL Volume: 51 Pages: 39-53
  • NAID: 110008607623
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Disambiguation of homonyms by EFL readers : The effects of primary meaning and context interpretation. (2010)
  • Author(s): Ushiro, Y., Hoshino, Y., Shimizu, H., Kai, A., Nakagawa, C., Watanabe, F., Takaki, S.
  • Journal Title: ARELE (Annual Review of English Language Education in Japan) 21(印刷中)
  • NAID: 110008512406
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Effects of reading perspective on EFL learners' summary writing and importance rating. (2009)
  • Author(s): Ushiro, Y., Kai, A., Nakagawa, C., Watanabe, F., Hoshino, Y., & Shimizu, H.
  • Journal Title: Annual Review of English Language Education in Japan Volume: 20 Pages: 11-20
  • NAID: 110008512365
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Comparing effects of two types of vocabulary knowledge on six question types in reading tests among Japanese EFL learners. (2009)
  • Author(s): Ushiro, Y., Hirai, N., Hoshino, Y., Nakagawa, C., Kai, A., Ide, M., Oki, T., Suzuki, S., Terada, Y., Takaki, S., & Shimizu, H.
  • Journal Title: The Japan Language Testing Association Journal Volume: 12 Pages: 104-115
  • NAID: 40016915057
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Comparing Effects of Two Types of Vocabulary Knowledge on Six Question Types in Reading Tests Among Japanese EFL Learners. (2009)
  • Author(s): Ushiro, Y., Hirai, N., Hoshino, Y., Nakagawa, C., Kai, A., Ide, M., Oki T., Suzuki, S., Terada, Y., Takaki, S., Shimizu, H.
  • Journal Title: JLTA Journal (The Japan Language Testing Association) 12 Pages: 104-115
  • NAID: 40016915057
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] 英文読解におけるグローバルな文脈情報を用いた未知語推論の検証: 語彙知識の「深さ」はなぜ必要なのか? (2012)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司・濱田彰・高木修一・長谷川佑介・名畑目真吾・小林真悠子・木村雪乃・田中菜採・澤佐遥
  • Organizer: 第38回全国英語教育学会愛知研究大会
  • Place of Presentation: 愛知学院大学
  • Year and Date: 2012-08-05
• [Presentation] 英語リーディングの科学:「読めたつもり」の謎を解く (2011)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司
  • Organizer: 第22回第二言語習得研究会全国大会
  • Place of Presentation: 国際交流基金日本語国際センター(埼玉県)(基調講演)(招待講演)
  • Year and Date: 2011-12-10
• [Presentation] EFL読解における状況モデルの修正: 処理のレベルとテキスト構造に焦点を当てて (2011)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司・長谷川佑介・名畑目真吾・中川知佳子・高木修一・濱田彰
  • Organizer: 第37回全国英語教育学会山形研究大会
  • Place of Presentation: 山形大学
  • Year and Date: 2011-08-20
• [Presentation] EFL読解における状況モデルの修正:英文読解技能とテキスト構造に焦点を当てて (2011)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司・長谷川佑介・名畑目真吾・中川知佳子・高木修一・濱田彰
  • Organizer: 第37回全国英語教育学会山形研究大会
  • Place of Presentation: 山形大学
  • Year and Date: 2011-08-20
• [Presentation] 英語リーディングの科学:「読めたつもり」の謎を解く (2010)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司
  • Organizer: ELEC同友会英語教育学会
  • Place of Presentation: 拓殖大学文京キャンパス 招待講演
  • Year and Date: 2010-10-31
• [Presentation] 外国語の文字言語理解とワーキングメモリモデル (2010)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司
  • Organizer: ことばの科学会
  • Place of Presentation: 関西学院大学(梅田) 招待講演
  • Year and Date: 2010-10-09
• [Presentation] 英語リーディングの科学:「読めたつもり」の謎を解く (2010)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司
  • Organizer: 北海道英語教育学会
  • Place of Presentation: 北星学園大学 招待講演
  • Year and Date: 2010-10-03
• [Presentation] フラッシュバックが日本人EFL学習者の物語文読解に与える影響 (2010)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司・甲斐あかり・清水遥・星野由子・名畑目真吾・長谷川佑介・矢野賢・中川知佳子
  • Organizer: 第36回全国英語教育学会大阪研究大会
  • Place of Presentation: 関西大学
  • Year and Date: 2010-08-07
• [Presentation] フラッシュバックが日本人EFL学習者の物語文理解に与える影響 (2010)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司・甲斐あかり・清水遥・星野由子・名畑目真吾・長谷川佑介・矢野賢・中川知佳子
  • Organizer: 第36回全国英語教育学会大阪研究大会
  • Place of Presentation: 関西大学千里山キャンパス
  • Year and Date: 2010-08-07
• [Presentation] 英語リーディングの科学:「読めたつもり」の謎を解く (2010)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司
  • Organizer: 東京経済大学ゲスト講師招聘学術講演会
  • Place of Presentation: 東京経済大学 招待講演
  • Year and Date: 2010-07-08
• [Presentation] 英語リーディングの科学:「読めたつもり」の謎を解く (2010)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司
  • Organizer: 関西英語教育学会(KELES)
  • Place of Presentation: 京都教育大学 招待講演
  • Year and Date: 2010-06-05
• [Presentation] EFL学習者における同音異義語の意味決定:第一義の影響と文脈解釈の観点から (2009)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司・星野由子・中川知佳子・清水遥・甲斐あかり・渡邊芙裕美・高木修一
  • Organizer: 第35回全国英語教育学会鳥取研究大会
  • Place of Presentation: 鳥取大学
  • Year and Date: 2009-08-09
• [Presentation] EFL学習者における同音異義語の意味決定:第一義の影響と文脈解釈の観点から (2009)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司・星野由子・中川知佳子・清水遥・甲斐あかり, 渡邊芙裕美・高木修一
  • Organizer: 第35回全国英語教育学会鳥取研究大会
  • Place of Presentation: 鳥取大学(鳥取県)
  • Year and Date: 2009-08-09
• [Presentation] 英文読解におけるグローバルな文脈情報を用いた未知語推論の検証: 語彙知識の「深さ」はなぜ必要なのか？
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司 (他8名)
  • Organizer: 第38回全国英語教育学会愛知研究大会
  • Place of Presentation: 愛知学院大学 (愛知県)
• [Book] 『第二言語読解における推論活性化ユニットの特定と心的表象構築プロセスの解明』.研究課題番号:21520632 平成21 年度～平成24 年度科学研究費補助金 基盤研究(C)(一般)研究成果報告書 (2013)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司
  • Total Pages: 123
• [Book] 英語リーディングテストの考え方と作り方 (2012)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司
  • Total Pages: 206
  • Publisher: 東京: 研究社
• [Book] 英語リーディングテストの考え方と作り方 (2012)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司
  • Total Pages: 206
  • Publisher: 研究社
• [Book] 英語で英語を読む授業 (2011)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司
  • Total Pages: 205
  • Publisher: 東京: 研究社
• [Book] 英語で英語を読む授業 (2011)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司編著
  • Total Pages: 205
  • Publisher: 研究社
• [Book] Flexibility of updating situation models: Schema modification processes of Japanese EFL readers. (2010)
  • Author(s): Ushiro, Y.
  • Total Pages: 384
  • Publisher: Tokyo: Kairyudo
• [Book] 英文読解における読み手の理解修正プロセス」. 木村博是・木村友保・氏木道人 (編著). 『リーディングとライティングの理論と実践: 英語を主体的に「読む」・「書く」』 (2010)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司
  • Publisher: 東京: 大修館書店.
• [Book] 英語リーディングの科学:「読めたつもり」の謎を解く (2009)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司.
  • Total Pages: 199
  • Publisher: 東京: 研究社.
• [Book] 英語リーディングの科学:「読めたつもり」の謎を解く (2009)
  • Author(s): 卯城祐司編著
  • Total Pages: 199
  • Publisher: 研究社
• [Remarks]
  • URL: http://www.u.tsukuba.ac.jp/~ushiro.yuji.gn/
• [Remarks] 電脳ゼミナール
  • URL: http://www.u.tsukuba.ac.jp/~ushiro.yuji.gn/