Strategic processing and predictive inference generation in L2 reading

Abstract

Predictive inference is the anticipation of the likely consequences of events described in a text. This study investigated predictive inference generation during second language (L2) reading, with a focus on the effects of strategy instructions. In this experiment, Japanese university students read several short narrative passages designed to elicit predictive inferences under instructions either to understand the passage or to anticipate the outcome of the events described. Each passage was followed by a lexical-decision probe word that was related to the expected inference. In addition, a cued recall task was conducted after reading all the passages. Analysis of lexical decision times revealed that inferences were generated during reading only when instructions encouraged predictions. Furthermore, the facilitation effect of instructions was prominent among higher L2 proficiency readers. The results of the recall task showed that readers’ comprehension of explicit text information was not impaired by focusing attention on implicit predictive information.