The mediating role of mind wandering in the relationship between working memory capacity and reading comprehension.
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Jennifer C. McVay (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Michael Kane
Abstract: The primary goal of this study was to investigate the mediating role of mind
wandering in the relationship between working memory capacity (WMC) and reading
comprehension as predicted by the executive-attention theory of WMC (e.g., Kane &
Engle, 2003). I used a latent-variable, structural-equation-model approach with three
WMC span tasks, seven reading comprehension tasks, and three attention-restraint tasks.
Mind wandering was assessed using experimenter-scheduled thought probes during four
different tasks. The results support the executive-attention theory of WMC. Mind
wandering is a significant mediator in the relationship between WMC and reading
comprehension, suggesting that the relationship is driven, in part, by attention control
over intruding thoughts. I discuss implications for theories of WMC, attention control,
and reading comprehension.
The mediating role of mind wandering in the relationship between working memory capacity and reading comprehension.
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Created on 5/1/2010
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Dissertation
- Language: English
- Date: 2010
- Keywords
- attention control, executive control, mind wandering, reading comprehension, task-unrelated thought, working memory capacity
- Subjects
- Short term memory $x Research.
- Reading comprehension $x Research.
- Attention.
- Reading comprehension $x Psychological aspects.
- Reading comprehension $x Evaluation.
- Short term memory $x Evaluation.