The Reading Ability Can Be Predicted by a Universal Verbal Working Memory Factor Across Different Writing Systems: Evidence from Reading Span Task
Yan Jin · Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research/Advances in social science, education and humanities research · 2022
Most Chinese college students have an experience of learning English as second language for more than ten years.To explore whether the ability of reading Chinese script and English script was related to a universal working memory capacity, and whether the working memory capacity can predict a change in reading ability, we measured the general working memory span (via N-back task), verbal working memory span of Chinese and English (via reading span task), and reading comprehension ability of Chinese and English of our participants.We also collected the score of Chinese and English of their College Entrance Exam, which is tested at least half a year before now.Our results showed that both Chinese and English reading ability can be predicted by English reading span, which suggested a universal reading ability across different writing systems.The results also showed that reading span failed to predict the past reading score, and Chinese reading span failed to predict the reading comprehension of either Chinese and English, the possible reasons were discussed.