John Benjamins Publishing Company
Chapter 6. Structure, lexis, and time perspective
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Abstract
The Cognition and Tradeoff Hypotheses account for task performance in different ways. The former sees task complexity as the driver for higher accuracy and structural complexity whereas the latter, within the constraints of limited attentional capacities, sees performance as being accounted for through the interaction of influences from task characteristics and task conditions. This chapter reports on a study which contrasts these two accounts, manipulating task structure (as an influence on primarily accuracy, but secondarily complexity), vocabulary difficulty (as a disruptor of smooth processing during performance), and time perspective (as a method of operationalising task complexity). The results do simultaneously produce raised accuracy and complexity, but this is best accounted for through the separate contribution of task structure and a there-and-then perspective (analysed differently to that within the Cognition Hypothesis), rather than through greater task complexity. Vocabulary difficulty did not have the predicted impact. The results are discussed in terms of the Tradeoff and Cognition Hypotheses.
Abstract
The Cognition and Tradeoff Hypotheses account for task performance in different ways. The former sees task complexity as the driver for higher accuracy and structural complexity whereas the latter, within the constraints of limited attentional capacities, sees performance as being accounted for through the interaction of influences from task characteristics and task conditions. This chapter reports on a study which contrasts these two accounts, manipulating task structure (as an influence on primarily accuracy, but secondarily complexity), vocabulary difficulty (as a disruptor of smooth processing during performance), and time perspective (as a method of operationalising task complexity). The results do simultaneously produce raised accuracy and complexity, but this is best accounted for through the separate contribution of task structure and a there-and-then perspective (analysed differently to that within the Cognition Hypothesis), rather than through greater task complexity. Vocabulary difficulty did not have the predicted impact. The results are discussed in terms of the Tradeoff and Cognition Hypotheses.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Series editors’ preface to Volume 5 ix
- Preface xi
- Chapter 1. The context for researching a processing perspective on task performance 1
- Chapter 2. On-line time pressure manipulations 27
- Chapter 3. Task readiness 63
- Chapter 4. Self-reported planning behaviour and second language performance in narrative retelling 95
- Chapter 5. Get it right in the end 129
- Chapter 6. Structure, lexis, and time perspective 155
- Chapter 7. Structure and processing condition in video-based narrative retelling 187
- Chapter 8. Limited attentional capacity, second language performance, and task-based pedagogy 211
- Author Biodata 261
- Index 263
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Series editors’ preface to Volume 5 ix
- Preface xi
- Chapter 1. The context for researching a processing perspective on task performance 1
- Chapter 2. On-line time pressure manipulations 27
- Chapter 3. Task readiness 63
- Chapter 4. Self-reported planning behaviour and second language performance in narrative retelling 95
- Chapter 5. Get it right in the end 129
- Chapter 6. Structure, lexis, and time perspective 155
- Chapter 7. Structure and processing condition in video-based narrative retelling 187
- Chapter 8. Limited attentional capacity, second language performance, and task-based pedagogy 211
- Author Biodata 261
- Index 263
