''I don't know'' use and guessing on the bilingual Japanese vocabulary size test: clarifications and limitations

Abstract

This paper offers a response to Hutchinson’s comments on ourpreliminary report of ”I don’t know” use and guessing on the bilingualJapanese Vocabulary Size Test (VST), which was published in VocabularyLearning and Instruction. In particular, it provides greater clarification ofthe English proficiency levels used throughout that paper and areiteration of what we see as its key findings regarding the range ofvocabulary size estimates that were able to be calculated for theparticipants. Finally, it addresses the methodological limitations ofthe original study, which, we believe, reduce any determinations aboutthe participants’ personality types or general test-taking behaviors tomere speculation.