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Effects of Task Complexity on L2 Writing Behaviors and Linguistic Complexity

Revesz, A; Kourtali, N; Mazgutova, D; (2017) Effects of Task Complexity on L2 Writing Behaviors and Linguistic Complexity. Language Learning , 67 (1) pp. 208-241. 10.1111/lang.12205. Green open access

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Abstract

This study investigated whether task complexity influences second language (L2) writers’ fluency, pausing, and revision behaviors and the cognitive processes underlying these behaviors; whether task complexity affects linguistic complexity of written output; and whether relationships between writing behaviors and linguistic complexity are moderated by task complexity. Participants were 73 advanced L2 writers, who completed simple or complex essay tasks. Task complexity was operationalized as the absence versus presence of content support. Participants’ writing behaviors were recorded via keystroke logging software. Four writers, drawn from groups performing simple and complex tasks, additionally engaged in stimulated recall. Content support was found to lead to less pausing, more revision, and increased linguistic complexity. When content support was absent, more frequent pauses and revisions were associated with less sophisticated lexis. These results, combined with stimulated recall comments, suggest that content support likely reduced processing burden on planning processes, facilitating attention to linguistic encoding.

Type: Article
Title: Effects of Task Complexity on L2 Writing Behaviors and Linguistic Complexity
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1111/lang.12205
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/lang.12205
Language: English
Additional information: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Revesz, A; Kourtali, N; Mazgutova, D; (2016) Effects of Task Complexity on L2 Writing Behaviors and Linguistic Complexity, Language Learning, which has been published in final form at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/lang.12205. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving (http://olabout.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-828039.html#terms).
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Culture, Communication and Media
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1508023
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