Research Mariëlle Leijten

Abstract

Nowadays, writers rarely ever write from scratch. They integrate information from multiple online sources (e.g., reports, articles, blogs, tweets) into a new text that is coherent and relevant. Source-based writing is a complex mental process: writers must compare, contrast and evaluate sources, plan the text, select the relevant information from the sources and add new data, and write the text. The academic research into source-based writing is limited, yet in full development due to its growing professional importance. The existing research is focused primarily on the writing product and writing in the L1 (i.e., dominant language). This research project aims to create a theoretical model that describes source-based writing in the L1 (Dutch), L2 (English) and FL (French, Spanish). We will explore (1) how writers consult digital sources during the writing process, (2) how they integrate input (e.g., content, structure and wording) from those sources in their writing product, and (3) how these processes relate to the quality of the writing product and the writer's working memory and linguistic proficiency. We will do so by: (1) analysing keystroke logging data of about 600 texts written by master's students in Multilingual Professional Communication; (2) analyzing the students' writing products and processes by various plagiarism and linguistic annotation tools; (3) investigating the effect of process feedback on source-based writing via peer-based examples (modelling) in an experimental study.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Leijten Mariëlle
• Co-promoter: Bernolet Sarah
• Co-promoter: Vangehuchten Lieve
• Fellow: Chau Luan

Research team(s)

• Management

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Research has shown that Alzheimer (AD) patients manifest deterioration in language production. The current (diagnostic) instruments for language assessment (in general, as well as in relation to dementia) largely focus on product measures, such as phrase length and number of errors. However, the processes leading to spoken and written text production provide insight into language ability as well. This research project aims to develop valid sentence production tasks that enable researchers and clinicians to adequately characterize the longitudinal decline of on-line written language production in AD. These aims will be addressed in three consecutive studies: 1. an exploratory study, 2. a cross-sectional study, and 3. a longitudinal study. Since findings from previous research indicate the need for a screening task that assesses multiple components of language, we will combine writing tasks that focus on motor (physical typing skills), cognitive (mind) and linguistic (language) aspects. Therefore, during an exploratory study we aim to develop a number of highly controlled sentence production tasks that assess a set of predefined cognitive and linguistic process aspects. Exploratory study In the exploratory study, we aim to initially develop 60 picture combination cards; groups of separate pictures that elicit a written sentence. During the experiment, participants are instructed to include the objects depicted when producing a sentence and to link them with a verb that fits the situation. The observation method used is keystroke logging via the in-house developed tool Inputlog, which is non-intrusive, time-saving, and hence cost-reducing, when compared to other tools or techniques. By using validated pictures we can easily predetermine the words participants will probably use when producing a sentence and hence monitor specific word characteristics that influence cognitive pauses. Recent explorations on related linguistic data proved the discriminatory power of determiners, nouns, verbs (and adjectives) for distinguishing between participant groups. Therefore, these word categories will be the main focus of the elicited sentences. Cross-sectional and longitudinal study Based on the findings of the exploratory study, the number of picture combination cards needed (via statistical techniques like Generalizability and Design study) will be reduced to an optimal minimum. In the experimental cross-sectional study patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), mild AD and a healthy control group will be involved. The participants will be asked to perform a brief copy task (motor and typing skills) and to produce sentences (cognitive and linguistic skills) based on randomly selected picture combination cards. Finally, in the longitudinal study, the cross-sectional study will be replicated after six and twelve months in order to document the (potential) cognitive decline. We will opt for mixed effects models in which the random effects of subjects, sentences and words are modeled. A secondary goal of this research project is to further automatize data analysis and report generation allowing clinicians to interpret the data instantly. Since we trigger predefined nouns, verbs and adjectives in our study, we should be able to further automatize the analysis and reporting via Inputlog.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Leijten Mariëlle
• Co-promoter: De Maeyer Sven
• Fellow: Meulemans Catherine

Research team(s)

• Management

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Research has shown that Alzheimer (AD) patients manifest deterioration in language production. The current (diagnostic) instruments for language assessment (in general, as well as in relation to dementia) largely focus on product measures, such as phrase length and number of errors. However, the processes leading to spoken and written text production provide insight into language ability as well. This research project aims to develop valid sentence production tasks that enable researchers and clinicians to adequately characterize the longitudinal decline of on-line written language production in AD. These aims will be addressed in three consecutive studies: 1. an exploratory study, 2. a cross-sectional study, and 3. a longitudinal study. Since findings from previous research indicate the need for a screening task that assesses multiple components of language, we will combine writing tasks that focus on motor (physical typing skills), cognitive (mind) and linguistic (language) aspects. Therefore, during an exploratory study we aim to develop a number of highly controlled sentence production tasks that assess a set of predefined cognitive and linguistic process aspects. Exploratory study In the exploratory study, we aim to initially develop 60 picture combination cards; groups of separate pictures that elicit a written sentence. During the experiment, participants are instructed to include the objects depicted when producing a sentence and to link them with a verb that fits the situation. The observation method used is keystroke logging via the in-house developed tool Inputlog, which is non-intrusive, time-saving, and hence cost-reducing, when compared to other tools or techniques. By using validated pictures we can easily predetermine the words participants will probably use when producing a sentence and hence monitor specific word characteristics that influence cognitive pauses. Recent explorations on related linguistic data proved the discriminatory power of determiners, nouns, verbs (and adjectives) for distinguishing between participant groups. Therefore, these word categories will be the main focus of the elicited sentences. Cross-sectional and longitudinal study Based on the findings of the exploratory study, the number of picture combination cards needed (via statistical techniques like Generalizability and Design study) will be reduced to an optimal minimum. In the experimental cross-sectional study patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), mild AD and a healthy control group will be involved. The participants will be asked to perform a brief copy task (motor and typing skills) and to produce sentences (cognitive and linguistic skills) based on randomly selected picture combination cards. Finally, in the longitudinal study, the cross-sectional study will be replicated after six and twelve months in order to document the (potential) cognitive decline. We will opt for mixed effects models in which the random effects of subjects, sentences and words are modeled. A secondary goal of this research project is to further automatize data analysis and report generation allowing clinicians to interpret the data instantly. Since we trigger predefined nouns, verbs and adjectives in our study, we should be able to further automatize the analysis and reporting via Inputlog.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Leijten Mariëlle
• Co-promoter: De Maeyer Sven
• Fellow: Meulemans Catherine

Research team(s)

• Management

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Literary scholars working in textual scholarship study the genetics of literary texts. So far, they have done this on the basis of texts produced in an analogue manner. However, modern-day literature is made in a largely digital work environment. In our project 'Literary writing 2.0' we will investigate the consequences of this digital work process for research methods. We will do this by using our shared expertise on text editions and textual genetics (Huygens ING) and cognitive writing process research (University of Antwerp). In this project we describe the writing processes of four literary writers via the keystroke logging tool Inputlog (www.inputlog.net).

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Leijten Mariëlle

Research team(s)

• Management

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Research has shown that Alzheimer (AD) patients manifest deterioration in language production. This research project aims to develop complementary screening tasks that enable researchers and clinicians to characterize the longitudinal decline of on-line written language production in AD . These aims will be addressed in three consecutive studies: 1. a task-validity study, 2. a cross-sectional study, and 3. a longitudinal study. Since findings from previous research indicate the need for a screening task that assesses multiple components of language, we will combine writing tasks that focus on motor and cognitive and linguistic aspects. The more general screening tasks (i.c., describing two pictures depicting a situation) that focus on the cognitive and linguistic aspects need to be validated first. The quality of the elicitation, and consequently of the screening tool, will benefit from a careful validation of the tasks at hand. Based on the findings of the task validity study, we will design an experimental cross-sectional study involving patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), mild AD and a healthy control group. The observation method used, keystroke logging, is non-intrusive, time-saving, and hence cost-reducing, when compared to other diagnostic tools. Finally, in a longitudinal study, the cross-sectional study will be replicated twice (after 6 and 12 months) in order to document the (potential) gradual cognitive decline.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Leijten Mariëlle
• Fellow: Paesen Lise

Research team(s)

• Management

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Research has shown that Alzheimer (AD) patients manifest deterioration in language production. This research project aims to develop valid screening tasks that enable researchers and clinicians to characterize the longitudinal decline of on-line written language production in AD over a 12- month period. These aims will be addressed in three consecutive studies: 1. a task-validity study, 2. a cross-sectional study, and 3. a longitudinal study. Since findings from previous research indicate the need for a screening task that assesses multiple components of language, we will combine writing tasks that focus on motor and cognitive and linguistic aspects. The more general screening tasks (i.c., describing two pictures depicting a situation) that focus on the cognitive and linguistic aspects need to be validated first. The quality of the elicitation, and consequently of the screening tool, will benefit from a careful validation of the tasks at hand. Based on the findings of the task validity study, we will design an experimental cross-sectional study involving patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), mild AD and a healthy control group. The observation method used, keystroke logging, is non-intrusive, timesaving, and hence cost-reducing, when compared to other diagnostic tools. Finally, in a longitudinal study, the cross-sectional study will be replicated at three different moments (0-6-12 months) in order to document the (potential) cognitive decline.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Leijten Mariëlle
• Fellow: Meulemans Catherine

Research team(s)

• Management

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Translation and writing are increasingly converging in the professional and educational fields, but it is unclear which competencies translators and writers actually share. This project examines how translation competence and writing competence are related, what writing competence of translators entails and how it is different from the writing competence of writers. The results can inspire a larger study on text-productive competence.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Schrijver Iris
• Co-promoter: Leijten Mariëlle
• Co-promoter: Robert Isabelle

Research team(s)

• Translation, Interpreting and Intercultural Studies (TricS)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

In the current project we would like to test for the very first time the complementary diagnostic accuracy for AD, mainly focusing on cognitive and linguistic aspects that characterize the process of written language production. By adding a complementary process dimension to study language production, we hope to further improve the quality, efficiency and effectivity of this potential diagnostic tool. Moreover, on a more fundamental level, we would like to investigate analysing techniques to discriminate (grapho)motor activities from cognitive activities during writing. The study consists of two procedural

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vandenbempt Koen
• Co-promoter: Van Waes Luuk
• Fellow: Leijten Mariëlle

Research team(s)

• Management

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Writing a business text, e.g. a report for a merger, is a very complex activity. Previous writing research had lead to various well-known writing process models. However, these models are primarily based on educational environments and single texts. Professional writers on the other hand often use multiple (digital) sources to succesfully write their business texts. It is important, especially in this digital age, in which (written) communication performs an important role, to describe these writing competences. This project, therefore, addresses the following research question: What writing processes and strategies are involved when professional writers write business texts from multiple (digital) sources?

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Matthyssens Paul
• Co-promoter: Van Waes Luuk
• Fellow: Leijten Mariëlle

Research team(s)

• Management

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Professional writers frequently interrupt the text production process to monitor their text produced so far. So far, this process of 'reading during writing' has not been studied. However, recent technological developments enable us to study reading behavior during writing. In our research we explore how (re)reading might shift the cognitive orientation of the writing process and the relation between reading and writing on the one hand and reading and revising on the other.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Waes Luuk
• Co-promoter: Leijten Mariëlle

Research team(s)

• Management

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

We would like to develop a Knowledge Center for Writing Process Research (WRITINGpro) in order to offer a digital platform to writing process research. The main aims of the Knowledge Center are to bring together methodological knowledge about writing process research and to offer a databank for writing process data (based on CHILDES). Website: logging tools, databank of writing process data, data collection, data analyses, FAQ and references.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Leijten Mariëlle

Research team(s)

• Management

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Speech recognition-based writing has proven to be a valuable and quick method to provide (intralingual) subtitles for real time television programs. The often very fast speaking rates of the source material and the limited reading rates of the viewers, however, call for some extent of summarization and adaptation. The present research project tries to identify the ideal reduction degree for the subtitling of live programs. Two subsequent experiments focus on production as well as reception of real time subtitles.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Waes Luuk
• Co-principal investigator: Remael Aline
• Co-promoter: Leijten Mariëlle

Research team(s)

• Management

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

In this research we will build on a paradigm developed in the course of Leijten's doctoral work. In order to investigate how professional writers manage the balance between monitoring previous text an generating further text, writers are asked to generate sentence completions while at the same time monitoring and correcting errors in the sentence stem. Previous research has found that writers vary widely in the extent to which they prioritise the sentence completion part of the task or the error correcting part of the task. This study will use a modified version of this task to examine whether theses differences are related to the working memory capacity of writers and to individual differences in self-monitoring style. Eye movements will be analysed to determine how writers allocate their attention during the task. Data will be used to calculate an index of the writers' processing style.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Waes Luuk
• Co-promoter: Leijten Mariëlle

Research team(s)

• Management

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Leijten Mariëlle

Research team(s)

• Management

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Logging software is used for an analysis of live subtitling procedures for television, in which a respeaker makes use of speech technology to produce subtitles following both the block and the scrolling methods. The study will look into the efficiency of the speech recognition process, as well as the subtitles produced by the two methods, and the cognitive writing processes they involve. The ultimate purpose of the project is to improve logging and to elaborate a procedure for the quality improvement of live subtitling.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Waes Luuk
• Co-promoter: Leijten Mariëlle

Research team(s)

• Management

Project type(s)

• Research Project