The present study aimed to bridge the gap in understanding the effects of captioned viewing on incidental vocabulary learning by using a forest plot to illustrate the influence of word-related factors and learner-related factors. Data were collected from 67 university students at a Chinese university. The results highlighted the significant effect of captioned viewing on incidental vocabulary learning and revealed the varied roles of both word- and learner-related factors in this process. Specifically, the study found that word frequency, word relevance, vocabulary breadth, phonological working memory, complex working memory, and English proficiency all play significant roles in vocabulary acquisition. These findings provide deeper insights into the relative value of captioned viewing for incidental vocabulary learning and identify which factors most significantly influence vocabulary gains. Implications were proposed to align with these findings.
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