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2014 CALL Conference
LINGUAPOLIS
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More particularly, I focus on how to enhance audio-visual material in order to stimulate
those processes that are required for successful word learning (e.g. noticing, form-
meaning connections). One of the techniques that I included is L2 subtitling or full
captioning. In order to determine the overall effectiveness of video enhanced with full
captioning for vocabulary acquisition and investigate the relationship between study
characteristics (test type and proficiency level) and captioning effectiveness, we
conducted a meta-analysis (Montero Perez, Van Den Noortgate, & Desmet, 2013). By
using meta-analytic procedures, we were not only able to quantify the overall
effectiveness and identify potential moderating effects of study characteristics (Lipsey &
Wilson, 2001), but a meta-analysis also allows to identify gaps in research and
methodology which require further research. On the basis of the results of the meta-
analysis, I decided to conduct a series of experimental studies on different types of L2
subtitles or captions.
Indeed, I have mainly addressed the effects of different visualizations of captions on
vocabulary acquisition (e.g. Montero Perez, Peters, Clarebout & Desmet, 2014),
learners’
use of captions, and the relationship between use and vocabulary learning effectiveness.
With type of captioning, I refer to full captioning (the standard example) and captioning
types in which the unknown words and keywords (i.e. the words essential to the meaning
of a sentence) are enhanced. The latter include keyword captioning, full captioning with
highlighted keywords, and glossed keyword captions. Glossed keyword captions provide
the possibility to access word meaning. I have also investigated the impact of test
announcement (i.e. forewarning or not forewarning students of upcoming vocabulary
tests) as an enhancement technique, on vocabulary acquisition and learners’ use of
captions. In what follows I will focus on a series of methodological challenges that I
encountered while designing the aforementioned studies and while analyzing research
findings.
This section is organized around four challenges: I first describe the challenge to find the
right balance between experimental control and ecological validity, next I focus on the
use of testing procedures which take into account the complexity of the construct under
investigation. Finally, challenges are also at the level of data collection techniques and
data analysis and reporting.
When conducting experimental research and preparing research designs, we need to face
the constant challenge to find
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