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Reviewing the potential of the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) for capturing second language exposure and use

Arndt, Henriette LU orcid ; Granfelt, Jonas LU orcid and Gullberg, Marianne LU orcid (2023) In Second Language Research 39(1). p.39-58
Abstract
Frequent language exposure and use are among the most important conditions for successful language learning whether in classrooms, during study abroad, or in other informal contexts. Research probing exposure and usage often relies on one-off self-report questionnaires in which participants estimate their typical level of language exposure over extended periods of time, often long after it occurred. This may negatively affect the validity of the resulting data. This paper instead explores the potential of methods used in medical and psychological research, variably known as the ‘Experience Sampling Method’ (ESM; Csíkszentimihályi and Larson, 1987), ‘Ecological Momentary Assessment’ (EMA; Stone and Shiffman, 1994), or ‘diary methods’... (More)
Frequent language exposure and use are among the most important conditions for successful language learning whether in classrooms, during study abroad, or in other informal contexts. Research probing exposure and usage often relies on one-off self-report questionnaires in which participants estimate their typical level of language exposure over extended periods of time, often long after it occurred. This may negatively affect the validity of the resulting data. This paper instead explores the potential of methods used in medical and psychological research, variably known as the ‘Experience Sampling Method’ (ESM; Csíkszentimihályi and Larson, 1987), ‘Ecological Momentary Assessment’ (EMA; Stone and Shiffman, 1994), or ‘diary methods’ (Bolger et al., 2003). These methods are often combined with electronic and mobile survey applications to elicit self-report assessments at frequent, sometimes randomised intervals. We consider the possibilities of these methods for strengthening research into language exposure and use, second language acquisition more broadly, and study abroad research specifically. The methods have the potential to drastically reduce biases associated with summative recall. Additionally, they enable researchers to collect richer data about how individuals engage with language differently over time, and the contexts in which they do so, thus ultimately contributing to our understanding of individual differences in language acquisition. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
second language acquision, ESM, method
in
Second Language Research
volume
39
issue
1
pages
20 pages
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:85107186750
ISSN
0267-6583
DOI
10.1177/02676583211020055
project
THE LANG-TRACK-APP: Studying exposure to and use of a new language using smartphone technology
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
df7aa9ac-7e06-4e77-afb9-06357c25355d
date added to LUP
2021-04-15 16:01:02
date last changed
2023-11-23 01:19:22
@article{df7aa9ac-7e06-4e77-afb9-06357c25355d,
  abstract     = {{Frequent language exposure and use are among the most important conditions for successful language learning whether in classrooms, during study abroad, or in other informal contexts. Research probing exposure and usage often relies on one-off self-report questionnaires in which participants estimate their typical level of language exposure over extended periods of time, often long after it occurred. This may negatively affect the validity of the resulting data.  This paper instead explores the potential of methods used in medical and psychological research, variably known as the ‘Experience Sampling Method’ (ESM; Csíkszentimihályi and Larson, 1987), ‘Ecological Momentary Assessment’ (EMA; Stone and Shiffman, 1994), or ‘diary methods’ (Bolger et al., 2003). These methods are often combined with electronic and mobile survey applications to elicit self-report assessments at frequent, sometimes randomised intervals. We consider the possibilities of these methods for strengthening research into language exposure and use, second language acquisition more broadly, and study abroad research specifically. The methods have the potential to drastically reduce biases associated with summative recall. Additionally, they enable researchers to collect richer data about how individuals engage with language differently over time, and the contexts in which they do so, thus ultimately contributing to our understanding of individual differences in language acquisition.}},
  author       = {{Arndt, Henriette and Granfelt, Jonas and Gullberg, Marianne}},
  issn         = {{0267-6583}},
  keywords     = {{second language acquision; ESM; method}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{39--58}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Second Language Research}},
  title        = {{Reviewing the potential of the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) for capturing second language exposure and use}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/96719672/Arndt_2020_Reviewing_the_potential_of_the_Experience_Sampling_Method.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/02676583211020055}},
  volume       = {{39}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}