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In:Implicit and Explicit Learning of Languages
Edited by Patrick Rebuschat
[Studies in Bilingualism 48] 2015
► pp. 275–300

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Challenges in implicit learning research

Validating a novel artificial language

 | Qatar University
ORCiD logo with link | UCL Institute of Education, University College London
 | Lancaster University
Published online: 24 September 2015
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/sibil.48.12rog
This chapter documents some of the methodological challenges in the use of artificial grammars in second language research. In the three experiments reported here, participants were exposed to an artificial language system based on Czech morphology under incidental learning conditions. After several modifications to the design of Experiments 1 and 2, Experiment 3 provided evidence that learners can acquire knowledge of L2 case marking incidentally. Taken together, these three experiments illustrate the challenges that researchers can face when carrying out incidental learning research, in particular the often unreported difficulty in establishing an initial learning effect when piloting a novel, semi-artificial language system.
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