Abstract
Individual differences in second language acquisition (SLA) encompass differences in working memory capacity, which is believed to be one of the most crucial factors influencing language learning. However, in Poland research on the role of working memory in SLA is scarce due to a lack of proper Polish instruments for measuring this construct. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the process of construction and validation of the Polish Listening Span (PLSPAN) as a tool intended to measure verbal working memory of adults. The article presents the requisite theoretical background as well as the information about the PLSPAN, that is, the structure of the test, the scoring procedures and the steps taken with the aim of validating it.
Highlights
Working memory (WM) is a term adapted from cognitive psychology, which generally refers to our ability to maintain and operate on a limited amount of information when doing some mentally demanding tasks (Baddeley, 2015)
We decided to construct two Polish tools for measuring WM capacity: a listening span, which is a measure of the central executive (CE), and a nonword list, which is a measure of the phonological loop (PL)
According to Conway et al (2005, p. 776): One conclusion that can be drawn from this body of research is that measures obtained from these tasks have adequate reliability . . . For example, estimates of reliability based on internal consistency, such as coefficient alphas and splithalf correlations, which reflect the consistency of participants’ responses across a test’s items at one point in time, are typically in the range of .70-.90 for span scores
Summary
Working memory (WM) is a term adapted from cognitive psychology, which generally refers to our ability to maintain and operate on a limited amount of information when doing some mentally demanding tasks (Baddeley, 2015). There is much evidence that WM storage and executive components are involved in foreign or second language (L2) learning and processing (Linck, Osthus, Koeth, & Bunting, 2014; Wen, 2015, 2016); this relationship is difficult to pinpoint due to various methodological problems, the method of measurement being one of the most important issues. One of the prerequisites of the reliability of cognitive tests is the use of the participants’ native language. We decided to construct two Polish tools for measuring WM capacity: a listening span, which is a measure of the central executive (CE), and a nonword list, which is a measure of the phonological loop (PL). This article describes the process of construction of the first one, that is the Polish Listening Span Test (PLSPAN). We offer some conclusions and suggestions for further research
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
