Think-aloud protocols and their use in qualitative research in language education

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15633/tes.11303

Keywords:

verbal reports, think aloud protocols, qualitative research, learning strategies, cognitive processes

Abstract

Think-aloud protocols are data collection tool used to gather information about the cognitive processes of participants of the study. Due to their potential to reveal not only the outcomes but also the way in which individuals approach and solve problems, this method is widely applied across various fields, such as psychology and translation studies. The aim of this article is to present think-aloud protocols as a research tool in language education and to demonstrate a practical example of their application in a study on learning strategies. The article discusses the stages of designing the research and collecting data using this technique and offers an evaluation of its usefulness based on the study conducted among primary school students learning Spanish as a second foreign language.

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2025-09-30

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