Experimental Research Methods in Language Learning

1
Experimental Research Methods in Language Learning

• Chapter 1
• Introduction and Overview

2
Leading Questions

• What is research?
• What do you think experimental researchers do in
  their research?
• Do you think whether an experimental research
  design can provide an insight into language
  learning? Why or why not?

3
Experimental Research in Language Learning

• A systematic, quantitative research design that
  aims to
• understand aspects involved in language learning,
  particularly those that influence language
  learning or use.
• examine a causal-like relationship between
  variables in language learning or use
• evaluation the condition in which language
  learning can be optimized.

4
Examples of Experimental Studies

• Chen and Truscott (2010) examined the effects of
  repetition and first language (L1) lexicalization
  on incidental vocabulary learning using a
  posttest and delayed posttest experimental
  design.
• Ammar and Spada (2006) investigated the effects
  of two corrective feedback techniques (recast and
  prompts) on students language learning
  performance.

5
Academic Research

• An intellectual act to discover new facts or
  knowledge by attempting to go beyond existing
  knowledge through observing, collecting, and
  analysing evidence.
• Academic research requires planned and organized
  actions for collecting and analyzing data in
  order to make appropriate inferences and
  warranted conclusions about the topic or problem
  under examination

6
Primary versus Secondary Research

• Primary research concerns first-hand data
  (referred to as empirical data) from research
  participants or documents to answer research
  questions.
• Secondary research does not require researchers
  to collect new empirical data (e.g. library
  research and a review of the research
  literature).

7
Applied Linguistics and Language Learning Research

• Applied linguistics is an interdisciplinary field
  of research inquiry that is mainly concerned with
  language use in social contexts.
• Key areas of applied linguistics closely related
  to language education include language
  acquisition, learning and pedagogy, language
  testing and assessment, and bilingualism and
  multilingualism.

8
Aims of Language Learning Research

• To explore individual and environmental aspects
  associated with language learning or use
• To describe characteristics of language learning
  phenomena
• To explain how language learning develops and why
  language development differs among different
  individuals

9
Aims of Language Learning Research

• To predict language learners future learning
  behaviors, steps, performance or success
• To test or assess language learning or use as
  well as evaluating an effectiveness of a language
  instruction or program and
• To apply current knowledge or theory in classroom
  practice.

10
Quantitative versus Qualitative Research

• Quantitative research seeks to determine a
  relationship between two or more variables. It is
  primarily related to numerical data, measurement
  and statistical analysis.
• Qualitative research seeks to make sense of and
  understand the language learning and language use
  of an individual or a group of individuals in
  natural and classroom settings.

11
Mixed Methods Research

• Combines quantitative and qualitative methods in
  a single study.
• It is a pragmatic approach to a research design
  that draws on strengths of both quantitative and
  qualitative methods to address a research problem
  more critically and thoroughly.

12
Cross-sectional versus Longitudinal Research

• Cross-sectional research refers to a situation in
  which researchers collect data from one or more
  cohorts (e.g., a person or group of people) at a
  single point in time.
• Longitudinal research refers to a situation in
  which researchers collect the same aspects of
  information from the same participant(s) over a
  period of time.

13
Reasoning and Inferencing

• Reasoning is defined as the act of drawing
  conclusions about a topic under study.
• Deductive reasoning is a process where we make
  use of pre-existing theories to guide our
  observation or to direct our attention to what to
  observe.
• Inductive reasoning is a process by which we
  first observe language learners behaviors or a
  particular phenomenon and then draw conclusions
  on the basis of those behaviors.

14
Research Vocabulary

• Science and scientific knowledge
• Empiricism and empirical evidence
• Data
• Participants
• Theory
• Constructs
• Hypotheses

15
Characteristics of Good Researchers

• Have genuine interest
• Have both theoretical and methodological
  knowledge
• Have common sense, common research knowledge, and
  critical thinking skills
• Are tolerant of ambiguity and demonstrate
  persistence
• Are transparent and socially and ethically
  responsible

16
Discussion

• To what extent do you agree or disagree with the
  statement research is searching again and
  again. Why or why not?
• In your view, why is it inadequate to explain
  language learning by simply understanding the
  linguistic system of a particular language?
• Discuss the characteristics of good researchers
  presented in this chapter. Are there any other
  characteristics that should be added?