Why Do EFL Learners Make Refixations on Words? The Relation Between Eye Movements and Reading Strategies

• Project/Area Number: 18K00760
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 02100:Foreign language education-related
• Research Institution: Toyohashi University of Technology (2020-2023); Nagoya Gakuin University (2018-2019)
• Principal Investigator: Leung Chi Yui 豊橋技術科学大学, 総合教育院, 准教授 (80648262)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2023)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,030,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥930,000); Fiscal Year 2020: ¥780,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥180,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000)
• Keywords: 英文読解 / 単語認知 / 英語学習者 / 眼球運動 / 方略 / 予測度 / 情意的要因 / 読解力構成技能 / 個人差 / Clozeテスト / 読解力 / 外国語 / 認知方略 / 注視位置 / 第2言語読解 / 再注視 / 読解能力構成技能

Outline of Final Research Achievements

With special focus on refixations, the present study investigated the factors influencing refixations and its relationship with word recognition strategies (local strategy or global strategy) during second language (L2) reading. The main findings are as follows. Based on the analyses on the eye-movement data, the effects of word length and word frequency on refixations and word recognition strategies during L2 reading were reconfirmed. With respect to the reader-related factors, the results showed that not only L2 reading skills and reading subcomponent skills, but psychological attributes as well as metacognitive awareness of reading strategies also have influence on refixations and choices of word recognition strategies.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は第2言語の読解における眼球運動に関する指標―再注視―を焦点に、日本人英語学習者の英文読解時の単語認知方略に関する要因を特定することにより、日本人英語学習者の読解メカニズムの解明に貢献できた。なお、本研究成果を通して、効率的な読み方に関連する要因を特定することにより、日本人英語学習者がどのようにすればより効率的に英文を読めるようになれるのかについて教育的な示唆を示した。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Transitional shift of metacognitive awareness of reading strategy along with L2-English reading proficiency (2020)
  • Author(s): Yoshikawa, L., & Leung, C.Y.
  • Journal Title: The Reading Matrix Volume: 20(1) Pages: 36-44
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Positive psychology broadens readers' attentional scope during L2 reading: Evidence from eye movements (2019)
  • Author(s): Leung, C.Y., Mikami, H., & Yoshikawa, L.
  • Journal Title: Frontiers in Psychology Volume: 10 Pages: 1-12
  • DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02245
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Word recognition strategies and initial fixation locations during Japanese EFL reading: A preliminary study (2019)
  • Author(s): Leung, C.Y.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Nagoya Gakuin University: Language and Culture Volume: 30 Pages: 47-54
• [Presentation] 英文読解における読解方略のメタ認知が英文読解に及ぼす影響について：英語学習者の読解時の眼球運動データをもとに (2022)
  • Author(s): 梁志鋭・吉川りさ
  • Organizer: 外国語教育メディア学会中部支部第98回研究大会（2022年5月28日に発表確定）
• [Presentation] Eyes Know When the Rhythm Breaks During L2 Silent Reading (2019)
  • Author(s): Yoshikawa, L. & Leung, C.Y.
  • Organizer: The 2019 conference of the American Association for Applied Linguistics
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Eyeblinks Reflect Cognitive Effort During a L2 Reading Task (2019)
  • Author(s): Leung, C.Y. & Yoshikawa, L.
  • Organizer: The 2019 conference of the American Association for Applied Linguistics
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Book] 「単語認知方略と読解力構成技能の関連について―英語学習者の読解時における眼球運動をもとに―」木下徹教授退官記念論集編集委員会編『応用言語学と外国語教育研究―未来への展望―』 (2021)
  • Author(s): 梁志鋭・吉川りさ
  • Publisher: 金星堂（発行確定）