ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses results of the verbal protocol analysis (VPA)-based and process-oriented experiment. The experiment was designed on the basis of two tasks: testing "the threshold effect" from a process perspective, and investigating the role of first language (L1) cognitive use in second language (L2) reading. The chapter also elaborates the methods used to draw conclusions from the protocols, and culminates with a summary of the findings. For the qualitative analysis, the contents of the think-aloud protocols were examined for individual differences in reported strategy use as well as for additional evidence to support the quantitative results. For the quantitative analysis, the small sample size required that a nonparametric statistical test be applied to the data. While transcribing data chapter computed the proportions of language use (Chinese, English or both) for the three groups High L2 Proficiency Group (HiL2), Low L2 Proficiency Group (LoL2) and Intermediate L2 Proficiency Group (InL2).
