Improving Data Analysis in Second Language Acquisition by Utilizing Modern Developments in Applied Statistics

In this article we introduce language acquisition researchers to two broad areas of applied statistics that can improve the way data are analyzed. First we argue that visual summaries of information are as vital as numerical ones, and suggest ways to improve them. Specifically, we recommend choosing boxplots over barplots and adding locally weighted smooth lines (Loess lines) to scatterplots. Second, we introduce the reader to robust statistics,...