Rigor and self-awareness in L2 instructed vocabulary research: A commentary on Isbell and colleagues (2024), Stoeckel and Ishii (2024), and Aizawa (2024)

In this discussion paper, I examine three exceptional articles presented at the 2023 Symposium of the Japan Association for Language Teaching’s Vocabulary Special Interest Group. These papers are analyzed from the standpoint of providing positive examples for future vocabulary researchers to follow in order to promote rigor in their work. I also discuss how these reports demonstrate a clear self-awareness regarding the conclusions their inquiries can and cannot support. Taken together, these three reports are invaluable for promoting better vocabulary research.