| The primary goal of this study was to investigate the mediating role of mind wandering in the relationship between working memory capacity (WMC) and reading comprehension as predicted by the executive-attention theory of WMC (e.g., Kane & Engle, 2003). I used a latent-variable, structural-equation-model approach with three WMC span tasks, seven reading comprehension tasks, and three attention-restraint tasks. Mind wandering was assessed using experimenter-scheduled thought probes during four different tasks. The results support the executive-attention theory of WMC. Mind wandering is a significant mediator in the relationship between WMC and reading comprehension, suggesting that the relationship is driven, in part, by attention control over intruding thoughts. I discuss implications for theories of WMC, attention control, and reading comprehension. |
