A Critical Review of Think-Aloud Methodology in Second Language Vocabulary Acquisition and Comprehension

Abstract

This paper presents a critical review of Parry’s (1997) “Vocabulary and Comprehension: Two Portraits”.  The review opens with the study context and findings, followed by reviewing other studies conducted in the same research area. Finally, the paper evaluates the relevance of the research method employed by the researcher. Parry’s study combines a mixed research approach of both quantitative and qualitative as data-gathering procedures; however, the current paper places greater emphasis on the qualitative research design-precisely, it examines the relevance of utilizing case study in general and the think-aloud protocol in particular as a research method. Results from the current study showed that Parry’s study has offered significant qualitative data into L2 vocabulary learning strategies using think-aloud protocols; however, a lack of presenting background knowledge of the study, insufficient research tools, and inconsistent coding restrict its generalizability. This review paper is expected to provide insightful implications for those who are interested in conducting similar research. In addition, presenting this kind of paper helps students develop critical thinking skills, including analysis, synthesis, and research evaluation.