Instrument Reporting Practices in Second Language Research

Second language (L2) researchers often have to develop or change the instruments they use to measure numerous constructs (Norris Plonsky & Gass, 2011). The present study examined instrument reporting practices in three L2 journals over a period of 5 years. Origins were reported for 58% of the instruments, descriptions of piloting were provided for 17% of the instruments, reliability coefficients were reported for 28% of the instruments (with Cronbach's alpha being the most frequently used index: 22%), and inter‐rater reliability information was provided for 42% of the instruments (with percentage agreement being the most frequently used calculation: 16%). Seventeen percent of the instruments were made available either online or in an appendix. This snapshot of current reporting practices indicates areas where transparency could be improved.