Date of Award
Spring 5-22-2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Tabitha Payne
Second Advisor
Sarah Murnen
Abstract
The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between novel Japanese script learning and visual working memory. Novel script learning for Chinese has shown to be correlated with visual working memory in previous research. Previously unstudied is the relationship between visual working memory and varying types of Japanese script. Japanese script is especially interesting in that there is both a logographic script, Kanji, and a phonetic script, hiragana. The impact of working memory for visual location on memory for the two types of scripts was evaluated. A complex span task was used to evaluate a subject's visual working memory. hiragana and Kanji learning was assessed with serial presentation of script with subsequent memory recognition. Results revealed that there is a significant correlation between visual working memory and both types of novel script learning. Further analysis showed that shape processing in the working memory test is correlated with remembering Kanji, but not hiragana.
Recommended Citation
Apsley, John, "Does Visual Working Memory Predict Learning of Japanese Script? A Comparison of Logographic and Syllabary Script" (2022). Honors Theses. 273.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/honorstheses/273
Rights Statement
All rights reserved. This copy is provided to the Kenyon Community solely for individual academic use. For any other use, please contact the copyright holder for permission.