The use and abuse of EFL dictionaries : how learners of English as a foreign language read and interpret dictionary entries
This thesis begins with a review of research into dictionary use. A number of experimental design problems are discussed, in particular the unreliability of questionnaire responses, and the need for detailed accounts of individual dictionary consultations whilst sampling in numbers sufficient to represent specified populations. The experiments reported in subsequent chapters investigate issues raised in the review. The first two studies find that dictionary use during a reading comprehension test affected completion speed but not test scores. The apparent failure of dictionary use to improve comprehension is attributed to the test itself, the dictionaries, and the users' choice of look-up words. The ability of users to interpret dictionary entries is investigated in three further studies which use computers to gather data on large numbers of individual consultations. The findings indicate that there is little difference between three major EFL dictionaries in terms of speed of consultation and overall productive success. They also indicate that Malaysian ESL subjects, who have higher vocabulary scores, are slower in their reading and less successful in their interpretation of entries than Portuguese EFL subjects.
Nesi, Hilary
The use and abuse of EFL dictionaries : how learners of English as a foreign language read and interpret dictionary entries. This thesis begins with a review of research into dictionary use. A number of experimental design problems are discussed, in particular the unreliability of questionnaire responses, and the need for detailed accounts of individual dictionary consultations whilst sampling in numbers sufficient to represent specified populations. The experiments reported in subsequent chapters investigate issues raised in the review. The first two studies find that dictionary use during a reading comprehension test affected completion speed but not test scores. The apparent failure of dictionary use to improve comprehension is attributed to the test itself, the dictionaries, and the users' choice of look-up words. The ability of users to interpret dictionary entries is investigated in three further studies which use computers to gather data on large numbers of individual consultations. The findings indicate that there is little difference between three major EFL dictionaries in terms of speed of consultation and overall productive success. They also indicate that Malaysian ESL subjects, who have higher vocabulary scores, are slower in their reading and less successful in their interpretation of entries than Portuguese EFL subjects.
use_abuse efl dictionary learner_english foreign_language read interpret dictionary entry begin_review dictionary_use number experimental design problem discuss particular questionnaire_response need detailed_account individual dictionary consultation whilst sample number sufficient represent specify population report subsequent investigate_issue raise review first_two study dictionary_use reading comprehension test affect completion speed test score apparent failure dictionary_use improve comprehension attribute test dictionary user choice look word ability user interpret dictionary entry investigate study use_computer gather_data large_number individual consultation finding indicate little difference three_major efl dictionary term speed consultation overall productive success also_indicate malaysian esl subject high vocabulary score slow reading less successful interpretation entry portuguese efl subject