USING PRIMING METHODS IN SECOND LANGUAGE RESEARCH Using Priming Methods in Second Language Research is an accessible introduction to the use of auditory, semantic, and syntactic priming methods for second language (L2) processing and acquisition research It provides a guide for the use, design, and implementation of priming tasks and an overview of how to analyze and report priming research Key principles about auditory, semantic, and syntactic priming are introduced, and issues for L2 researchers to consider when designing priming studies are pointed out Empirical studies that have adopted priming methods are highlighted to illustrate the application of experimental techniques from psychology to L2 processing and acquisition research Each chapter concludes with follow-up questions and activities that provide additional reinforcement of the chapter content, while the final chapter includes data sets that can be used to practice the statistical tests commonly used with priming data Kim McDonough is an Associate Professor in Applied Linguistics at Northern Arizona University Her research interests include second language acquisition and task-based language teaching Pavel Trofimovich is an Associate Professor in the Applied Linguistics Program at Concordia University His research interests include psycholinguistic aspects of second language/bilingual processing and learning, the use of technology in second language teaching, and the development of materials for classroom teaching of second language pronunciation SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION RESEARCH: THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES Susan M Gass and Alison Mackey, Editors Monographs on Theoretical Issues Schachter/Gass Second Language Classroom Research: Issues and Oppor tunities (1996) Birdsong Second Language Acquisition and the Critical Period Hypotheses (1999) Ohta Second Language Acquisition Processes in the Classroom: Lear ning Japanese (2001) Major Foreign Accent: Onto geny and Phylo geny of Second Language Phonolo g y (2001) VanPatten Processing Instruction: Theor y, Research, and Commentar y (2003) VanPatten/Williams/Rott/Overstreet Form-Meaning Connections in Second Language Acquisition (2004) Bardovi-Harlig/Hartford Interlanguage Pragmatics: Exploring Institutional Talk (2005) Dörnyei The Psycholo g y of the Language Lear ner: Individual Differences in Second Language Acquisition (2005) Long Problems in SLA (2007) VanPatten/Williams Theories in Second Language Acquisition (2007) Ortega/Byrnes The Longitudinal Study of Advanced L2 Capacities (2007) Liceras/Zobl/Goodluck The Role of Formal Features in Second Language Acquisition (2007) Monographs on Research Methodology Tarone/Gass/Cohen Research Methodolo g y in Second Language Acquisition (1994) Yule Referential Communication Tasks (1997) Gass/Mackey Stimulation Recall Methodolo g y in Second Language Research (2000) Markee Conversation Analysis (2000) Dörnyei Questionnaires in Second Language Research: Construction, Administration, and Processing (2002) Gass/Mackey, Data Elicitation for Second and Foreign Language Research (2007) Duff Case Study Research in Applied Linguistics (2007) Of Related Interest Gass Input, Interaction, and the Second Language Lear ner (1997) Gass/Sorace/Selinker Second Language Lear ning Data Analysis, Second Edition (1998) Gass/Selinker Second Language Acquisition: An Introductor y Course, Second Edition (2001) Mackey/Gass Second Language Research: Methodolo g y and Design (2005) USING PRIMING METHODS IN SECOND LANGUAGE RESEARCH Kim McDonough, Northern Arizona University Pavel Trofimovich, Concordia University, Montréal First published 2009 by Routledge 270 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016 Simultaneously published in the UK by Routledge Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2009 Taylor & Francis Typeset in Goudy by RefineCatch Limited, Bungay, Suffolk Printed and bound in the United States of America on acid-free paper by Sheridan Books, Inc All rights reserved No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data McDonough, Kim Using priming methods in second language research / Kim McDonough, Pavel Trofimovich p cm Includes bibliographical references Second language acquisition–Methodology Priming (Psychology) I Trofimovich, Pavel II Title P118.2.M337 2008 401′.93–dc22 2008017143 ISBN10: 0-415-99983-9 (hbk) ISBN10: 0-8058-6255-2 (pbk) ISBN10: 0-203-88094-3 (ebk) ISBN13: 978-0-415-99983-0 (hbk) ISBN13: 978-0-8058-6255-3 (pbk) ISBN13: 978-0-203-88094-4 (ebk) CONTENTS List of Boxes List of Figures List of Tables Preface xi xii xiv xvi Introduction to Priming Methods What is Priming? Is Priming Research Ecologically Valid? What Topics can be Explored Using Priming Methods? Models of Speech Production Models of Speech Comprehension Convergence in Dialogue Linguistic Knowledge 10 Incidental Learning 11 Skill Acquisition 12 Neuropsychology of Language Learning and Use 12 Representative L2 Priming Studies 13 Summary 16 Follow-up Questions and Activities 16 Auditory Priming 18 What is Auditory Priming? 19 Auditory Priming in L1 Processing and Acquisition 21 Examples of Auditory Priming 21 Properties of Auditory Priming 22 Relevance of Auditory Priming to L2 Processing and Learning 24 Questions Addressed in L2 Auditory Priming Research 26 Auditory Priming with L2 Speakers 27 vii CONTENTS Task Effects 28 Sensitivity to L2 Speech Features 30 Tasks Used in Auditory Priming Research 32 Logic of Auditory Priming Experiments 32 Word Stem/Fragment Completion Task 34 Identification Task 36 Repetition (Naming) Task 41 Issues to Consider in Auditory Priming Research 44 Selecting an Appropriate Task 44 Sample L2 Auditory Priming Study 45 Counterbalancing of Task Materials 47 Equal Baseline Performance 50 Matching Test Materials 51 Additional Uses of Auditory Priming Methods 52 Studying Auditory Priming for Novel versus Known Words 53 Auditory Priming in Meaningful Contexts 53 Auditory Priming and L2 Learning in Classroom Contexts 54 Summary 56 Follow-up Questions and Activities 56 Semantic Priming 58 What is Semantic Priming? 59 Semantic Priming in L1 Processing and Acquisition 60 Examples of Semantic Priming 60 Properties of Semantic Priming 63 Relevance of Semantic Priming to L2 Processing and Learning 65 Questions Addressed in L2 Semantic Priming Research 66 Semantic Priming in a Speaker’s L1 and L2 67 Semantic Priming in Monolinguals versus Bilinguals and L2 Learners 68 Organization of L1–L2 Lexicons 70 Tasks Used in Semantic Priming Research 73 Logic of Semantic Priming Experiments 73 Lexical Decision Task 74 Pronunciation (Naming) Task 77 Semantic Categorization Task 79 Sample L2 Semantic Priming Study 85 viii CONTENTS Issues to Consider in Semantic Priming Research 86 Selecting an Appropriate Task 86 Selecting Materials 88 Matching Task Materials 89 Nonwords and their Properties 90 Presentation Format 91 Additional Uses of Semantic Priming Methods 92 Studying Semantic Priming in Sentential Contexts Individual Differences and Semantic Priming 93 Summary 94 Follow-up Questions and Activities 94 92 Syntactic Priming 97 What is Syntactic Priming? 98 Syntactic Priming in L1 Processing and Acquisition 102 Topics Explored in Syntactic Priming Research 102 Properties of Syntactic Priming 105 Relevance of Syntactic Priming to L2 Processing and Learning 106 Questions Addressed in L2 Syntactic Priming Research 107 Organization of L1–L2 Syntactic Information 108 Syntactic Priming in L2 Speech Production 108 Sample L2 Syntactic Priming Study 110 Tasks Used in Syntactic Priming Research 111 Logic of Syntactic Priming Experiments 111 Picture Description Task 112 Sentence Recall Task 118 Sentence Completion Task 122 Scripted Interaction Task 124 Issues to Consider in Syntactic Priming Research 130 Selecting an Appropriate Task 130 Creating Materials 134 Analyzing Participants’ Responses 137 Reliability and Validity 138 Additional Uses of Syntactic Priming Methods 140 Interactive Oral Language Testing 140 Interaction Research 140 L1 Influence 142 Summary 142 Follow-up Questions and Activities 143 ix .. .USING PRIMING METHODS IN SECOND LANGUAGE RESEARCH Using Priming Methods in Second Language Research is an accessible introduction to the use of auditory, semantic, and syntactic priming methods. .. without intent to infringe Library of Congress Cataloging -in- Publication Data McDonough, Kim Using priming methods in second language research / Kim McDonough, Pavel Trofimovich p cm Includes bibliographical... of priming methods in L2 processing and acquisition, we first consider the ecological validity of priming research in the following section Is Priming Research Ecologically Valid? Priming research