The Effect of Integrative Prequestions on Learning From Text: an Eye-Tracking Study

Abstract

Asking questions before studying (i.e., prequestions) is an effective strategy for learning, but there is not enough evidence demonstrating how integrative prequestions lead to a general benefit of learning. Considering this need, this study aimed to reveal the underlying cognitive processes contributing to this learning benefit using eye movement measurements. This study included 24 adults aged 18-35. Half of the participants were randomly selected to answer integrative questions before reading the passage (Prequestion Group). The other half did not receive prequestions before reading (Control Group). The results show that answering integrative questions before reading enhances the learning of both prequestioned and non-prequestioned sentences. Eye movement data demonstrates that the Prequestion Group exhibited increased attention, with a greater fixation number and longer complete fixation time on prequestioned sentences than the Control Group, and they also displayed more gaze transitions between these sentences during reading due to combining information related to prequestions. Interestingly, the Prequestion Group achieved higher post-test scores on non-prequestioned sentences, even though they paid less attention to these items than the Control Group. These findings suggest that integrative prequestioning can be used as an active learning strategy for students to foster deeper cognitive processes through the integration of information.