The role of repetition in learning multiword units: A replication study of Webb, Newton, and Chang (2013)

The present study aims to replicate Webb, Newton, and Chang’s (2013) study on incidental learning of multiword units (MWUs). Even though more research has started to investigate MWUs, most data have been collected from university students. Further, the large effect of repetition in Webb et al. has not been corroborated in other studies on incidental learning of MWUs.  Data in the present study will be collected from two academic samples (EFL students in Poland and Flanders) and one non-academic sample (Flemish EFL learners in secondary schools). Unlike the initial study, our study will adopt a counterbalanced within-participants design. Participants will read and listen to a modified graded reader in which target MWUs occur 1, 5, 10, or 15 times. We hypothesize that compared to Webb et al. the gains will be smaller and will depend on learners’ prior vocabulary knowledge.