Researching Lexical Availability in L2: Some Methodological Issues

Abstract

In this chapter, we address some methodological issues that are necessary to consider in undertaking research on lexical availability. To this end, we apply an analysis to the studies included in the book paying attention to the following aspects: Type of study, Population, Sample, Lexical availability Task, Data Collection, Data processing and analysis. The purposes of our chapter are twofold; on the one hand, we set out to unfold the characteristics shared by the studies included in this volume, on the other, to clarify basic terms and concepts in lexical availability research. We include a brief description of tools and formulas such as Lexical Availability Index and Lexical Cohesion Index. This chapter also includes a summary of the common tendencies revealed in the studies in the book, surprisingly similar, taken into account that the studies were designed and carried out independently the one to the other in two different languages, in five countries and different learning contexts.