Complexity, accuracy, and fluency measures in oral pre-task planning: A synthesis
Date
2017
Authors
Contributor
Advisor
Department
Instructor
Depositor
Speaker
Researcher
Consultant
Interviewer
Narrator
Transcriber
Annotator
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Volume
Number/Issue
Starting Page
Ending Page
Alternative Title
Abstract
Over the past few decades, researchers have investigated planning as a significant process in task-based language teaching (TBLT). Past studies have supported the effectiveness of planning in second language (L2) learners’ oral production, especially in terms of fluency (e.g., Foster & Skehan, 1996; Gilabert, 2007; Ortega, 1999; Sasayama & Izumi, 2012; Yuan & Ellis, 2003). However, considering the influence of planning on accuracy (e.g., Foster & Skehan, 1999; Lee & Oh, 2007; Mehnert, 1998; Mochizuki & Ortega, 2008) and complexity (e.g., Bei, 2010; Kawauchi, 2005; Nitta, 2007; Wang & Song, 2015; Wigglesworth, 1997; Yuan, 2001), research has yielded mixed results. One of the reasons for this inconsistency in results may be the different units that studies have used to measure complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF). This variety makes comparisons among pre-task planning studies difficult (Ellis, 2009b). Although researchers in CAF have commented on this issue at large (e.g., Lambert & Kormos, 2014: Plonsky & Kim, 2016), they have not yet focused directly on pre-task planning. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to spark the discussions around the use of CAF measures by synthesizing existing pre-task planning studies and comparing the CAF measures employed in a set of selected studies. A number of quantitative studies conducted between 1995 and 2016 were selected based on a set of inclusion criteria. In order to investigate the overall role of strategic planning in oral tasks, special focus was given to CAF measures and the operationalization of pre-task and main task, including (a) the instruction given prior to the planning, (b) type of pre-task planning activity, (c) length of planning time, and (d) type of main task. More than 200 studies were collected in the initial phase, of which 40 were selected for comparison. The overview of this research process and the findings will be presented after a brief review of existing pre-task planning studies. Finally, the paper will conclude with a discussion of how researchers can use CAF measures to develop a deeper understanding of pre-task planning.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Extent
52 pages
Format
Geographic Location
Time Period
Related To
Related To (URI)
Table of Contents
Rights
Rights Holder
Local Contexts
Collections
Email libraryada-l@lists.hawaii.edu if you need this content in ADA-compliant format.