Research Methods in Language Teaching and Learning

GUIDES TO RESEARCH METHODS IN LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTICS "The book is such a unique collection of engaging personal narratives! It empowers inquisitive readers with critical methodological tools to explore L2 teaching and learning." -- Andy Gao, Associate Professor, University of South Wales "A stunning collection of stories told by researchers about their experiences of the research methods they use--particularly how and why they use them. A truly enlightening contribution." -- Gary Barkhuizen, Professor, University of Auckland "There is much discussion about how to bridge the research/practice divide, and educators are encouraged to research their practice and to apply research in their second language learning contexts. However, there has been--until now--no real window into the process that researchers in our field employ. Dikilita° and Mastruserio Reynolds have broken the mold in this innovative collection--by giving readers insight into the procedures, choices, and reasoning of researchers, they have truly created access to research in a way that will, in its approach, open up yet another type of black box. Scholars who wish to better reflect on their process and practitioners in classrooms will find these think-aloud narratives fascinating and spark a renewed interest in research design." -- Laura Baecher, Professor, Hunter College of the City University of New York Research Methods in Language Teaching and Learning, the latest entry into the Guides to Research Methods in Language and Linguistics series, provides practical guidance on the primary research methods used in second language teaching, learning, and education. Designed to support researchers and students in language education and learning, this highly accessible book covers a wide range of research methodologies in the context of actual practice to help readers fully understand the process of conducting research. Organized into three parts, this book covers qualitative studies, quantitative studies, and systematic reviews. Contributions by an international team of distinguished researchers and practitioners explain and demonstrate narrative inquiry, discourse analysis, ethnography, hermeneutics, heuristic inquiry, mixed methods, experimental and quasi-experimental studies, and more. Each chapter presents an overview of a method of research, an in-depth description of the research framework or data analysis process, and a meta-analysis of choices made and challenges encountered. Offering invaluable insights and hands-on research knowledge to students and early-career practitioners alike, this book provides firsthand narratives and case studies to explain the decisions researchers make while comparing the relative strengths and weaknesses of different research methods. Incorporating real-world examples for each research method and framework to highlight the context of the study, and offering extensive references, further reading suggestions, and end-of-chapter review questions, Research Methods in Language Teaching and Learning is essential reading for students, educators, and researchers in fields including TESOL, second language acquisition, English language teaching, and applied linguistics.