Developing mental orthographic representations in refugee spellers with low literacy: how much input is too much?

Heather Smyser, Mary Alt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: We used two principles of implicit learning, variability and complexity, to train mental orthographic representations in refugee English learners to improve spelling. Methods: Twenty-eight refugees enrolled in a 10-week English class were trained on classroom words using stimuli designed to encourage implicit learning. We contrasted high-variability visual input combined with either high-linguistic or low-linguistic complexity, using a short (<5 minute) PowerPoint-based training. Participants were regularly tested on their spelling and were compared with themselves using single subject design. Individual effect sizes were aggregated across participants, and we used dependent measures t-tests to compare conditions. Results: Participants learned significantly more treated words than control words in the high-variability/low-complexity condition, but not in the high-variability/high-complexity condition. Conclusions: Refugees can benefit from interventions designed to promote implicit learning but can be overwhelmed by too much input.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)455-474
Number of pages20
JournalJournal of Research in Reading
Volume41
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2018

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Psychology (miscellaneous)

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