Research Methods in Language Learning

by David Nunan

• ISBN13: 9780521429689
• ISBN10: 0521429684
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1992-06-26
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This text is intended to help readers understand and critique research in language learning.The paperback edition is intended to help readers understand and critique research in language learning. It presents a balanced and objective view of a range of methods - including formal experiments, introspective methods (including diaries, logs, journals, and stimulated recall), interaction and transcript analysis, ethnography, and case studies. Other topics covered are elicitation techniques, program evaluation, and action research. The book is highly accessible and does not assume specialist or technical knowledge. This volume will be of interest to students of applied linguistics and educational researchers, in addition to classroom teachers and teachers-in-training. After reading the book and completing the tasks and exercises included in each chapter, readers should be able to understand and critique published studies in the field of language learning. They should also have acquired sufficient skills and knowledge to formulate research questions, collect relevant data relating to the questions, analyze and interpret the data, and report the results to others. Throughout the book, theoretical issues are drawn from published studies and reports. The book also emphasizes to language teachers the professional and practical value of reading published research, and initiating their own research

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
An introduction to research methods and traditions	1	(23)
Research traditions in applied linguistics	1	(9)
The status of knowledge	10	(2)
Some key concepts in research	12	(5)
Action research	17	(3)
Conclusion	20	(1)
Questions and tasks	21	(2)
Further reading	23	(1)
The experimental method	24	(28)
The context of experimentation	24	(4)
The logic of statistical inference	28	(9)
Additional statistical tools	37	(3)
Types of experiments	40	(1)
The Psychometric study: an example	41	(6)
Conclusion	47	(1)
Questions and tasks	48	(3)
Further reading	51	(1)
Ethnography	52	(22)
Principles of ethnographic research	53	(5)
The reliability and validity of ethnography	58	(6)
The importance of context in ethnographic inquiry	64	(4)
Contrasting psychometry and ethnography	68	(3)
Conclusion	71	(1)
Questions and tasks	71	(2)
Further reading	73	(1)
Case study	74	(17)
Defining case studies	74	(5)
Reliability and validity of case study research	79	(2)
Single case research	81	(2)
The case study: an example	83	(5)
Conclusion	88	(1)
Questions and tasks	89	(1)
Further reading	90	(1)
Classroom observation and research	91	(24)
Methods of classroom observation and research	91	(11)
A review of research	102	(3)
Classroom research: sample studies	105	(4)
Conclusion	109	(1)
Questions and tasks	110	(4)
Further reading	114	(1)
Introspective methods	115	(21)
Some early introspective methods	116	(2)
Diary studies	118	(6)
Retrospection	124	(5)
A sample study using introspection	129	(3)
Conclusion	132	(1)
Questions and tasks	132	(3)
Further reading	135	(1)
Elicitation techniques	136	(23)
Production tasks	136	(4)
Surveys	140	(3)
Questionnaires	143	(6)
Interviews	149	(4)
A sample study	153	(3)
Conclusion	156	(1)
Questions and tasks	157	(1)
Further reading	158	(1)
Interaction analysis	159	(25)
Comparing discourse analysis, interaction analysis, and conversation analysis	159	(3)
Child-adult interaction	162	(6)
Adult-adult interaction: interpersonal encounters	168	(2)
Adult-adult interaction: transactional encounters	170	(4)
Interaction analysis in a cross-cultural context	174	(3)
Conclusion	177	(1)
Question and tasks	178	(5)
Further reading	183	(1)
Program evaluation	184	(27)
Defining evaluation	184	(1)
The relationship between assessment and evaluation	185	(4)
The importance of process data in program evaluation	189	(1)
Points of focus for program evaluation	190	(3)
Evaluation and research	193	(3)
Elements in the design of an evaluation study	196	(5)
Doing evaluation: a case study	201	(7)
Conclusion	208	(1)
Questions and tasks	209	(1)
Further reading	210	(1)
Doing research	211	(18)
Developing a research question	211	(5)
The literature review	216	(2)
Implementing the research project	218	(2)
Presenting the research	220	(6)
Conclusion	226	(1)
Questions and tasks	227	(1)
Further reading	228	(1)
Glossary of key terms in research	229	(5)
References	234	(11)
Index	245