Using think-aloud methodology in literary reading research (and classroom practice)
Submitted by:
Tanja Janssen
Abstract:
Thinking aloud (TA) has frequently been used in studies of how expert and novice literature readers respond to complex literary texts. It can also be used to compare readers with different cultural backgrounds.
In this workshop, I will demonstrate and discuss with participants how TA-methodology can be applied in literary reading research. After a short explanation of the nature and origins of TA as a research method, a few video´s and protocols of adolescent readers (reading a literary story under think aloud conditions) will be presented and discussed. Questions that are addressed are: What kind of insights into the reading process does thinking aloud provide? What are limitations? How can sessions and protocols be analyzed, both quantitatively and qualitatively? Can thinking aloud during reading also be applied as an instructional method in the literature classroom?