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Chapter 5. Comparing executive functions in monolinguals and bilinguals

Considerations on participant characteristics and statistical assumptions in current research
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Abstract

Research on bilingualism and executive functions has primarily focused on the presence or absence of an advantage, based on group comparisons between monolinguals and bilinguals. This research rests on two assumptions: first, that participant groups are mutually exclusive, and second, that important statistical practices are upheld. These assumptions, however, are linked to participant-related characteristics and data diagnostic procedures, which are often underreported. Importantly, bilingualism is a dynamic experience, reflecting how individuals interact with their environment through different languages. This interactional experience is essential for grouping participants within studies, and for drawing comparisons across studies. This paper addresses why claims based on between-group investigations of bilingualism and executive functions are insufficient, particularly when research contexts are not considered, and proposes future research directions for the field.

Abstract

Research on bilingualism and executive functions has primarily focused on the presence or absence of an advantage, based on group comparisons between monolinguals and bilinguals. This research rests on two assumptions: first, that participant groups are mutually exclusive, and second, that important statistical practices are upheld. These assumptions, however, are linked to participant-related characteristics and data diagnostic procedures, which are often underreported. Importantly, bilingualism is a dynamic experience, reflecting how individuals interact with their environment through different languages. This interactional experience is essential for grouping participants within studies, and for drawing comparisons across studies. This paper addresses why claims based on between-group investigations of bilingualism and executive functions are insufficient, particularly when research contexts are not considered, and proposes future research directions for the field.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Bilingualism, executive function, and beyond 1
  4. Part I. Beyond simple relations
  5. Chapter 2. The signal and the noise 17
  6. Chapter 3. Variation in language experience shapes the consequences of bilingualism 35
  7. Chapter 4. Adaptive control and brain plasticity 49
  8. Chapter 5. Comparing executive functions in monolinguals and bilinguals 67
  9. Chapter 6. Cooking pasta in La Paz 81
  10. Part II. Language processing
  11. Chapter 7. Interference control in bilingual auditory sentence processing in noise 103
  12. Chapter 8. Investigating grammatical processing in bilinguals 117
  13. Chapter 9. Referring expressions and executive functions in bilingualism 131
  14. Chapter 10. Language control and executive control 147
  15. Chapter 11. Effects of dense code-switching on executive control 161
  16. Chapter 12. Predicting executive functions in bilinguals using ecologically valid measures of code-switching behavior 181
  17. Part III. Cognition and bilingualism
  18. Chapter 13. Research on individual differences in executive functions 209
  19. Chapter 14. Does performance on executive function tasks correlate? 223
  20. Chapter 15. Putting together bilingualism and executive function 237
  21. Chapter 16. What cognitive processes are likely to be exercised by bilingualism and does this exercise lead to extra-linguistic cognitive benefits? 247
  22. Part IV. Development, aging, and impairment
  23. Chapter 17. Executive control in bilingual children 265
  24. Chapter 18. Interactions among speed of processing, cognitive control, age, and bilingualism 281
  25. Chapter 19. Teasing apart factors influencing executive function performance in bilinguals and monolinguals at different ages 295
  26. Chapter 20. Proficient bilingualism may alleviate some executive function difficulties in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders 337
  27. Chapter 21. Does bilingualism protect against cognitive aging? 355
  28. Author index 371
  29. Subject index 375
Bilingualism, Executive Function, and Beyond
This chapter is in the book Bilingualism, Executive Function, and Beyond
https://doi.org/10.1075/sibil.57.05whi

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Bilingualism, executive function, and beyond 1
  4. Part I. Beyond simple relations
  5. Chapter 2. The signal and the noise 17
  6. Chapter 3. Variation in language experience shapes the consequences of bilingualism 35
  7. Chapter 4. Adaptive control and brain plasticity 49
  8. Chapter 5. Comparing executive functions in monolinguals and bilinguals 67
  9. Chapter 6. Cooking pasta in La Paz 81
  10. Part II. Language processing
  11. Chapter 7. Interference control in bilingual auditory sentence processing in noise 103
  12. Chapter 8. Investigating grammatical processing in bilinguals 117
  13. Chapter 9. Referring expressions and executive functions in bilingualism 131
  14. Chapter 10. Language control and executive control 147
  15. Chapter 11. Effects of dense code-switching on executive control 161
  16. Chapter 12. Predicting executive functions in bilinguals using ecologically valid measures of code-switching behavior 181
  17. Part III. Cognition and bilingualism
  18. Chapter 13. Research on individual differences in executive functions 209
  19. Chapter 14. Does performance on executive function tasks correlate? 223
  20. Chapter 15. Putting together bilingualism and executive function 237
  21. Chapter 16. What cognitive processes are likely to be exercised by bilingualism and does this exercise lead to extra-linguistic cognitive benefits? 247
  22. Part IV. Development, aging, and impairment
  23. Chapter 17. Executive control in bilingual children 265
  24. Chapter 18. Interactions among speed of processing, cognitive control, age, and bilingualism 281
  25. Chapter 19. Teasing apart factors influencing executive function performance in bilinguals and monolinguals at different ages 295
  26. Chapter 20. Proficient bilingualism may alleviate some executive function difficulties in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders 337
  27. Chapter 21. Does bilingualism protect against cognitive aging? 355
  28. Author index 371
  29. Subject index 375
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