Conducting L2 listener verbal reports: Common missteps by novice researchers and ways to address them

Abstract

We have conducted second language (L2) listener verbal reports (VRs) for many years, and during that time have also advised or trained colleagues and research assistants to use these VRs. Based on these experiences, this article outlines various common missteps we and our trainees have made in conducting the VRs and how these missteps were, or could be, addressed. Through this approach, we provide advice to novice researchers planning to use this method to study L2 listeners. This advice is given as a series of recommendations in the following areas: the type of texts to use in the VR and how to select and trial them beforehand; how to prepare the participants for their VR; the language to use in the VR (L1 or L2); and procedural advice when conducting the VR. In addition, there's an extended section advising on the use of researcher questions to help elicit information from the participants about their listening behaviors during the VR. This is followed by advice on how to generally help train a novice researcher to conduct listener VRs. The article concludes by identifying some possible future research directions for addressing validity threats to listener VRs.