CONSTRUCTING SENTENCE-BASED EXPERIMENTAL MATERIALS FOR CHINESE SLA RESEARCH: FROM LINGUISTIC THEORY TO PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIMENTAL VARIABLE CONTROL PROCEDURES

Abstract

In Chinese Second Language Acquisition (SLA) research, experimental methods serve as a critical bridge between linguistic hypotheses and empirical data. To address the decoupling of theory and practical operation, this article proposes a standardized procedure for constructing sentence-based experimental materials and controlling variables. Through the analysis of representative studies by Zhao (2009), Yuan (2012), and Pham (2024), this paper outlines a methodological progression from processing content words in basic structures to function words within complex interfaces, such as the syntax-semantics and lexicon-syntax interfaces. The article proposes strategies to ensure the internal validity of the design through the control of latent variables. By employing specific manipulations—such as subject neutralization, predicate property locking, target word position control, and the removal of non-target sentence components that may cause interference—the paper describes the transition from linguistic knowledge to experimental materials that meet structural design requirements. Furthermore, the study explains that sacrificing partial ecological validity of naturalness in exchange for rigorous experimental control is acceptable under certain controlled conditions. Finally, the article provides a roadmap from terminology to standard practice for SLA researchers, emphasizing that variable control procedures are a fundamental prerequisite for obtaining analyzable and high-reliability data.