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In:Bilingualism, Executive Function, and Beyond: Questions and insights
Edited by Irina A. Sekerina, Lauren Spradlin and Virginia Valian
[Studies in Bilingualism 57] 2019
► pp. 67–79

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Chapter 5
Comparing executive functions in monolinguals and bilinguals

Considerations on participant characteristics and statistical assumptions in current research

 | University of Texas at El Paso
 | McGill University
Published online: 12 June 2019
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/sibil.57.05whi
Abstract
Research on bilingualism and executive functions has primarily focused on the presence or absence of an advantage, based on group comparisons between monolinguals and bilinguals. This research rests on two assumptions: first, that participant groups are mutually exclusive, and second, that important statistical practices are upheld. These assumptions, however, are linked to participant-related characteristics and data diagnostic procedures, which are often underreported. Importantly, bilingualism is a dynamic experience, reflecting how individuals interact with their environment through different languages. This interactional experience is essential for grouping participants within studies, and for drawing comparisons across studies. This paper addresses why claims based on between-group investigations of bilingualism and executive functions are insufficient, particularly when research contexts are not considered, and proposes future research directions for the field.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Bilingualism and executive functions
    • 2.1Cross-language activation
    • 2.2Attending to multiple competing language systems
  • 3.Two implicit assumptions in current research
  • 4.Conclusions and future directions
  • Note
  • References
References (54)
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