Doing Second Language Research: An introduction to the theory and practice of second language research for graduate/Master's students in TESOL and Applied Linguistics, and others

Doing Second Language Research provides an accessible introduction to language learning research, and a 'feel' for what research activities are like, by engaging the reader in several roles within a variety of mini-studies across a range of research design types, both quantitative and qualitative. Roles include that of research subject, research organizer, research data, research data collector, research data analyst, and research reporter. The book systematically explains the characteristics and purposes of various types of research, terminology, the logic underlying selection, and the steps typical of each type of research design. It also offers an intoduction to some of the classic research studies by engaging readers in thinking about and discussing these studies as well as participating as subjects in adapted versions of them.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments Preface PART ONE: Introduction 1: The nature of research 3 Introducing research 3 Experiencing research 3 Compiling research data 6 Analyzing research data 6 Designing research 10 Interpreting definitions of research 15 The significance of defining research 16 Reflecting on research definitions 17 Summary PART TWO: Qualitative research 2: Case study research: developmental research 21 Introducing case study research 21 Experiencing case study research 22 Compiling case study data 27 Analyzing case study data 30 Reporting your results 32 Designing case study research 36 Interpreting case study research 43 Significance of case study research 47 Reflecting on case study research 49 Summary 51 3: Introspection research: verbal protocols 53 Introducing introspective research 53 Experiencing introspective research 57 Compiling introspective data 61 Analyzing introspective data 63 Designing your own introspective research study 69 Interpreting introspective research 71 Significance of introspection as a scholarly focus 74 Reflecting on introspective research 75 Summary 78 4: Classroom research: interaction analysis 79 Introducing classroom research 79 Experiencing classroom research 80 Compiling classroom research data 87 Analyzing classroom interaction data 90 Designing your own classroom research 94 Interpreting classroom research 101 Significance of classroom research 105 Reflecting on classroom research 110 Summary 112 PART THREE: Quantitative research 5: Descriptive statistics research: survey analysis 117 Introducing descriptive statistics research 117 Experiencing descriptive statistics research 118 Compiling descriptive data 122 Analyzing descriptive data 122 Designing your own descriptive research 142 Interpreting descriptive research 147 Significance of descriptive research on teacher beliefs 151 Reflecting on descriptive research 154 Summary 156 6: Correlational research: language learning/teaching attitudes 157 Introducing correlational research 157 Experiencing correlational research 159 Compiling correlational data 162 Analyzing correlational data 166 Designing your own correlational research 180 Interpreting correlational research 184 Significance of correlational research comparing students and teachers attitudes 191 Reflecting on correlational research 192 Summary 193 7: Quasi-experimental research: vocabulary learning techniques 195 Introducing experimental research 195 Experiencing experimental research 195 Compiling experimental data 201 Analyzing experimental data 201 Designing your own experimental studies 211 Interpreting experimental studies 219 Significance of experimental research in teaching vocabulary 222 Reflecting on experimental research 223 Summary 224 PART FOUR: Conclusion 8 Course evaluation: combining research types 227 Introducing evaluation research 227 Experiencing evaluation research 228 Compiling evaluation data 233 Analyzing evaluation data 233 Reporting evaluation results 238 Designing your own evaluation studies 241 Interpreting evaluation studies 245 Significance of evaluation studies 247 Reflecting on evaluation research 250 Summary 256 Answer keys 257 Chapter 2 257 Chapter 6 258 Chapter 7 260 Appendices 264 Chapter 3 264 Chapter 4 271 Chapter 7 278 Chapter 8 280 Glossary 287 Bibliography 295 Index 309