Second Language Research Methods

Title Page
Copyright
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1: What is research?
	Introduction
	Research as a natural process
	Scientific research and common sense
	Finding answers: How do we know something?
	Basic, applied, and practical research
	Summary
	Activities
	References
Chapter 2: A paradigm for second language research
	Research and the phenomena of second language
	Four parameters for second language research
	Parameter 1: Synthetic and analytic approaches
	Parameter 2: Heuristic and deductive objectives
	Parameter 3: Control and manipulation of the research context
	Parameter 4: Data and data collection
	Summary
	Activities
	References
Chapter 3: The preparatory stages of research
	Introduction
	Where do research questions come from?
	Phase 1: The general question
	Phase 2: Focusing the question
	Phase 3: Deciding on an objective or purpose
	Phase 4: Formulating the research plan or the hypothesis
	Summary
	Activities
	References
Chapter 4: Contextualization of research
	The what and why of contextualization
	Locating the sources for the literature review
	Reading the literature
	Organizing and reporting the review of the literature
	Summary
	Activities
	References
Chapter 5: The components of research
	The need for a plan
	The research plan and the type of research
	Making predictions and controlling variables
	Making the research more effective
	Types of data and variables
	Internal and external validity
	Summary
	Activities
	References
Chapter 6: Research design: qualitative and descriptive research
	Introduction
	Qualitative research
	Descriptive research
	Multivariate and correlational research
	Summary
	Activities
	References
Chapter 7: Research design: experimental research
	Introduction
	The major components of experimental research
	Single group designs
	Designs using control groups
	Factorial designs
	Quasi-experimental designs
	Separate sample designs
	Summary
	Activities
	References
Chapter 8: Data and data collection procedures
	Introduction
	The data collection parameter
	Description of data collection procedures
	Assuring the quality of the data and the data collection procedures
	Using, adapting, and developing data collection procedures
	Summary
	Activities
	References
Chapter 9: Analyzing the data
	Data analysis and the design of the study
	Analyzing qualitative research data
	Analyzing descriptive research data
	Analyzing correlational research data
	Analyzing multivariate research data
	Analyzing experimental research data
	Using the computer for data analysis
	Summary
	Activities
	References
Chapter 10: Putting it all together
	Reporting, summarizing, and interpreting the results
	Reporting research
	Closing the research cycle?
	Summary
	Activities
	References
Appendix: References for further reading
Index