Bronson Hui

In the past decade, researchers have been increasingly interested in understanding the process of language learning, in addition to the effect of instructional interventions on L2 performance gains (i.e., learning products). One goal of such investigations is to reveal the interplay between learning conditions, processes, and outcomes where, for example, certain conditions can promote attention to the learning targets, which in turn facilitates learning. However, the statistical modeling approach taken often does not align with the conceptualization of the complex relationships between these variables. Thus, in this paper, we introduce mediation analysis to SLA research. We offer a step-by-step, contextualized tutorial on the practical application of mediation analysis in three different research scenarios, each addressing a different research design using either simulated or open-source datasets. Our overall goal is to promote the use of statistical techniques that are consistent with the theorization of language learning processes as mediators.

Congratulations to SLA students and faculty, Yazhuo Quan, Tetiana Tytko, and Bronson Hui, on publishing a methodological paper in Research Methods in Applied Linguistics. In this article, the authors introduce an AI application for researchers engaging in meta-research (research on research) in the field. The article is open access and available here (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmal.2024.100101). Part of the training received by the students was sponsored by the Faculty-Student Research Grant from the Graduate School awarded to Bronson Hui.

Quan, Y., Tytko, T., & Hui, B. (2024). Utilizing ASReview in screening primary studise for meta-research in SLA: A step-by-step tutorial. Research Methods in Applied Linguistics, 3(1), 100101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmal.2024.100101