Abstract Working memory has been posited to play an important role in affecting the processes of writing (Kellogg, 1996). However, to date there has been limited research on its role in second language writing and no research on whether it is associated with the effects of written corrective feedback in second language learning. This study examines the associations between two types of working memory—complex working memory and phonological short-term memory—and the effectiveness of four types of written corrective feedback: direct corrective feedback, direct corrective feedback plus revision, metalinguistic explanation, and metalinguistic explanation plus revision. Seventy-nine adult learners of English as a foreign language performed three writing tasks and took two working memory tests: a reading span test (complex working memory) and a non-word span test (phonological short-term memory). The results showed that (1) complex working memory was a positive predictor of the effects of metalinguistic explanation and the effects of direct corrective feedback plus revision, and (2) phonological short-term memory was a negative predictor of the effects of direct corrective feedback plus revision. The results suggest that the role of working memory varies as a function of feedback type and that complex working memory and phonological short-term memory may have opposite associations with the effectiveness of written feedback.

中文翻译：

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工作记忆与四种不同类型的书面纠正反馈效果之间的关联

摘要 工作记忆被认为在影响写作过程中发挥着重要作用（Kellogg, 1996）。然而，迄今为止，关于它在第二语言写作中的作用的研究有限，也没有研究它是否与书面纠正反馈在第二语言学习中的影响有关。本研究考察了两种工作记忆——复杂工作记忆和语音短期记忆——以及四种书面纠正反馈的有效性：直接纠正反馈、直接纠正反馈加修订、元语言解释和元语言解释加修订。79 名成人英语作为外语学习者完成了三项写作任务并参加了两项工作记忆测试：阅读跨度测试（复杂工作记忆）和非单词跨度测试（语音短期记忆）。结果表明：（1）复杂工作记忆是元语言解释效果和直接纠正反馈加修正效果的正向预测因子；（2）语音短期记忆是直接纠正反馈效应的负向预测因子。加上修订。结果表明，工作记忆的作用因反馈类型而异，复杂的工作记忆和语音短期记忆可能与书面反馈的有效性具有相反的关联。结果表明：（1）复杂工作记忆是元语言解释效果和直接纠正反馈加修正效果的正向预测因子，（2）语音短期记忆是直接纠正反馈效应的负向预测因子。加上修订。结果表明，工作记忆的作用因反馈类型而异，复杂的工作记忆和语音短期记忆可能与书面反馈的有效性具有相反的关联。结果表明：（1）复杂工作记忆是元语言解释效果和直接纠正反馈加修正效果的正向预测因子，（2）语音短期记忆是直接纠正反馈效应的负向预测因子。加上修订。结果表明，工作记忆的作用因反馈类型而异，复杂的工作记忆和语音短期记忆可能与书面反馈的有效性具有相反的关联。