Local level processing and working memory capacity in text modeling: The case of low and high literate adults

Abstract

Verbal Efficiency Theory is drawn upon to explain differences in reading processes between low and high-literate adults. This experimental study investigates local and higher-order text reading processes and working memory capacity when the literacy level varies. This research finds that low-literate adults report much more inefficient local and text-reading processes than high-literate adults. As text difficulty increases, this discrepancy widens more drastically. Working memory capacity is a critical mediator in explaining the relationship between local and text-reading processes.