An Experimental Comparison of Elaborative Prompt Utilization by Learners of Different Aptitude Levels in Foreign Language Vocabulary Learning

Seventy-two missionaries entering the Language Training Mission were divided into three language aptitude groups and equal numbers from each group assigned randomly to each of four treatments, then given the task of learning the meanings of twenty-four German words. Treatment I was given a visual mnemonic to link the word with its meaning, treatment II was instructed how to generate their own such image, treatment III was instructed to learn by any method they chose, and treatment IV was told to repeat the word and its meaning over and over. Mean scores on learning and retention tests were significantly higher in treatments I and II than in III and IV. Mean scores also tended to increase with aptitude level in all treatments. There was a significant correlation (p < .01) between utilization of elaboration and the aptitude score.

Thesis Author: Ball, John Price

Year Completed: 1973

Thesis Chair: Robert Blair