Eye tracking has become an increasingly popular research methodology among language researchers to examine online cognitive processing of second-language (L2) speakers and bilinguals. As the scope of eye-tracking research expands, there is a need to ensure that the methodology is used properly, so as to safeguard the validity of research findings and the empirical basis upon which theories are built. We present five pitfalls in eye-tracking research that may threaten the internal or external validity of the study. We offer concrete recommendations to avoid each pitfall and demonstrate how these recommendations can be implemented so researchers may take full advantage of the opportunities of eye-tracking research. The five pitfalls occur at all stages of the research cycle. We emphasize (1) adopting a confirmatory (theory-driven, hypothesis-testing) approach to research, (2) selecting and handling eye-movement measures in a principled manner, (3) aligning the research design with the eye tracker properties (spatial accuracy, precision), (4) inspecting raw, sample-level eye-tracking data and their preprocessing by the eye-tracking software. We conclude by inviting eye-tracking researchers (5) to embrace open science practices to enhance the replication and reproducibility of their work.

中文翻译：

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眼动追踪研究中的五个常见陷阱

眼动追踪已成为语言研究人员中越来越流行的研究方法，用于检查第二语言 (L2) 使用者和双语者的在线认知处理。随着眼动追踪研究范围的扩大，需要确保方法论的正确使用，以保障研究结果的有效性和理论建立的经验基础。我们提出了眼动追踪研究中可能威胁到研究的内部或外部有效性的五个陷阱。我们提供了避免每个陷阱的具体建议，并展示了如何实施这些建议，以便研究人员可以充分利用眼动追踪研究的机会。这五个陷阱发生在研究周期的所有阶段。我们强调（1）采用确认性（理论驱动，假设检验）研究方法，（2）以原则性的方式选择和处理眼动测量，（3）将研究设计与眼动仪特性（空间精度、精度）保持一致，（4）检查原始、样本-水平眼动追踪数据及其由眼动追踪软件进行的预处理。最后，我们邀请眼动追踪研究人员 (5) 接受开放的科学实践，以提高他们工作的可复制性和可重复性。