Second Language Learners’ Performance in Grammaticality Judgment Tests Under Different Task Conditions: Evidence from Eye-Movement Recording

Abstract

This study aims to explore how second language learners’ performance in grammaticality judgment tests (GJTs) vary according to task stimulus and time constraint. Native speakers and learners of English read grammatical and ungrammatical sentences in timed and untimed settings. They were asked to judge the grammaticality of given sentences. In order to investigate the participants’ online behaviors while performing the tasks, eye-tracking methodology was employed. In addition to their eye-movements while reading the test sentences, participants’ answers and response times were recorded. Results indicated that time constraints and grammaticality of test items influenced second language learners’ performances in GJTs. L2 participants responded more accurately in the untimed GJT, especially for ungrammatical items. Eye-movements data revealed that the learners had some level of online sensitivity toward grammaticality. The learners’ moment-by-moment behavior while performing GJTs varied according to task stimulus.