The Effect of Pictures on Test Performance and Strategy Use in L2 Reading Tests

This study examined the effects of pictures on test takers' performance and their strategy use on L2 reading tests. To address these issues, this study employed both a quantitative and a qualitative data analyses. For the quantitative analysis, thirty Korean heritage learners took two Korean reading tests presented in two different input modes, i.e., picture mode and no-picture mode, with a two-month interval in between. For the qualitative analysis, all the participants were interviewed as to how they utilized the pictures accompanying the texts, i.e., their picture- related strategy use while they were taking the picture mode test. Based on the results of the analysis, it is concluded that the effect of pictures should be discussed in terms of the interaction among several relevant factors, such as characteristics of texts and test items, and test takers' language proficiency. Implications for second language education and testing are discussed.