Stimulated recall protocols: Field-specific guidelines for second language acquisition and bilingualism research

Stimulated recall protocols are one of the most popular methods in second language acquisition and bilingualism research to investigate language learners’ internal thought processes when using second languages. Although methodological handbooks are available for learning how to set up a stimulated recall study, there is little empirically driven guidance on best practices for reporting variables central to the method. To develop field-specific reporting guidelines, this systematic review analyzed articles that used stimulated recall to elicit introspective reports in sixteen Q1 journals in applied linguistics between 2000 and 2024. After screening, 171 studies were analyzed for 62 variables inherent to this practice. Findings showed that some details were well-reported, but others critical for stimulated recalls, such as the use of instructions or the L2 proficiency of participants, were reported infrequently. The review concludes with empirically derived reporting guidelines derived from the literature to support authors, editors, and peer reviewers.