Raquel Criado

Raquel Criado is an Associate Professor in the Department of English Philology at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Murcia, Spain. She earned her PhD from the same university in 2008 with a thesis on activity sequencing in English as a Foreign Language teaching.

Research Interests: Her primary research areas include Applied Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition (SLA), and Foreign Language Teaching Methodology. She has a particular focus on form-focused and meaning-focused instruction, L2 writing processes, written corrective feedback, textbook analysis, and the application of cognitive theories such as Skill Acquisition Theory to language learning. Her work often investigates the cognitive and pedagogical aspects of language teaching materials and classroom practices.

Recent Publication Trends: Her most recent publications (2022-2023) demonstrate a continued and deepening engagement with empirical research on textbook use, adaptation, and the balance between form and meaning in instruction. She has also published significant work on the use of first language in non-formal education, collaborative writing in secondary education, and methodological considerations in studying young learners' writing processes using tools like Inputlog. Her research consistently employs robust methodologies, including mixed-methods and quasi-experimental designs.

Scientific Contributions:

• Developed and validated a scale for measuring the form-focus and meaning-focus load of textbook activities.
• Conducted extensive research on activity sequencing models (e.g., PPP vs. CPM) and their cognitive underpinnings.
• Explored the effects of written corrective feedback and models on young learners' writing fluency.
• Investigated the role of depth of processing in L2 writing and feedback.

Advising and Collaboration: While specific students are not listed, her role as a PhD supervisor (as mentioned in her thesis acknowledgment) and her frequent co-authorship with researchers like Aitor Garcés-Manzanera, Luke Plonsky, and Joaquín Gris-Roca indicate an active advising and collaborative research role. She has been involved in research groups such as La_L2 (Applied linguistics. Second Language Learning in Educational Texts) and was previously part of LACELL.

Labs and Teams: She is a key member of the research group La_L2: Applied linguistics. Second Language Learning in Educational Texts. This group is central to her research on language teaching materials, textbooks, and L2 learning processes.