The Impact of Text-Structure Strategy Instruction on the Text Recall and Eye-Movement Patterns of Second Language English Readers

Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of the Text Structure Strategy for improving text recall. The strategy emphasizes the identification of text structure for encoding and recalling information. Traditionally, the efficacy of this strategy has been measured through free recall. The present study examined whether recall and eye-movement patterns of second language English readers would benefit from training on the strategy. Participants’ free recall and eye-movement patterns were measured before and after training. There was a significant increase in recall at posttest and a change in eye-movement patterns, reflecting additional processing time of phrases and words signaling the text structure.     

Motives,mechanisms, and emotions

Abstract

Intelligent animals are solutions to a design problem posed by: the varying requirements of individuals, the more permanent requirements of species and social groups, the constraints of the environment, and the available biological mechanisms. Analysis of this design problem, especially the implications of limited knowledge and a continuous flow of information in a rapidly changing environment, leads to a theory of how new motives are processed in an intelligent system. The need for speed leads to architectures and algorithms that are fallible in ways that explain why intelligent agents are susceptible to emotions and errors. This holds also for intelligent robots. A study of such mechanisms and processes is a step towards a computational theory of emotions, attitudes, moods, character traits, and other aspects of mind so far not studied in Artificial Intelligence. In particular, it turns out that no special emotional subsystem is required. This framework clarifies and refines ordinary concepts of mental processes, and suggests a computational approach to psychotherapy.