Rapid serial visual presentation: Bilingual lexical and attentional processing

Abstract

This chapter examines the use of Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) as a research method for studying reading and attention in bilinguals. Theoretical background and methodological considerations are provided for the most common ways in which RSVP is used: lexical processing, repetition blindness (RB), the attentional blink (AB), and executive control. The authors also describe and discuss relevant studies that have used bilingual participants, whether exclusively or in comparison to monolinguals. To date, there has been relatively little use of RSVP in bilingual research. However, this chapter provides rationale for its use as a well-controlled experimental method that is especially well-suited for use with bilinguals (whose reading speeds tend to vary a great deal). Suggestions for future research are also provided.