Questionnaires in Second Language Research: Construction, Administration, and Processing (Second Language Acquisition Research Series) - Hardcover

Dörnyei, Zoltán

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0805839089 ISBN 13: 9780805839081

Publisher: Routledge, 2002

Synopsis

One of the most common methods of data collection in second language research is using questionnaires of various kinds. In spite of the wide application of questionnaires in the second language field, there does not seem to be sufficient awareness in the profession about the theory of questionnaire design and processing. The usual--and in most cases false--perception is that anybody with a bit of common sense can design good questionnaires, and the practice of questionnaire design and use has remained largely uninformed by theory. As a consequence, it is all too common to see that studies which start out with exciting research questions are spoiled by the application of badly designed questionnaires and/or a lack of reliable and valid results due to faulty processing. One reason for the lack of sufficient awareness of questionnaire theory among language researchers is the absence of relevant summaries and training materials in the second language literature. The purpose of the current book is to fill this gap.

The book is motivated by very practical purposes, namely to help researchers to increase the efficiency of their questionnaires and to avoid possible pitfalls. Accordingly, special care has been taken to avoid unnecesary jargon, to make the text accessible, and to relate everything to real-life situations. Illustrated by concrete examples, the book offers a thorough but accessible overview of the theory of questionnaire design, and administration and processing, with a special view on second language research applications. The conclusion summarizes the main points of questionnaire theory in a straightforward checklist that offers an easy-to-use tool for researchers. Researchers and students in TESOL and second-language programs and applied linguistics, with secondary markets in other language research (e.g., child language) will find this book useful.

About this title

About the Author

Zoltán Dörnyei is Professor of Psycholinguistics in the School of English Studies at the University of Nottingham, UK.

Tatsuya Taguchi is a PhD candidate in the School of English Studies at the University of Nottingham, UK.

Review

In sum, this book is a must-have, must-read for all novice researchers, classroom teacher-researchers, and students considering working with questionnaire data...Perhaps reflecting the author's own practice, the book is clearly enough written to be used in university-level academic preparation courses taught to ESL students, and is approachable and reader-friendly enough for even the most overworked graduate student (or professor). After reading and repeatedly consulting this book in my own research practice, I immediately listed it as a required text in my Master's level course concerned with research methods and applications in TESL. I trust my students will find it as helpful as I did.
—Studies in Second Language

...Questionnaires in Second Language Research is a brisk, no nonsense introduction to a complex subject. Dörnyei writes clearly and concisely and can explain complicated technical matters in a simple manner.
—TESL-EJ

[the] information is useful, and reading the various extant questionnaires would be an excellent starting place for anyone considering working with this form of data collection....this book is a must-have, must-read for all novice researchers, classroom teacher-researchers, and students considering working with questionnaire data....the book is clearly enough written to be used in university-level academic preparation courses taught to English as a second language (ESL) students, and it is approachable and reader friendly enough for even the most overworked graduate student (or professor). After reading and repeatedly consulting this book in my own research practice, I immediately listed it as a required text in my master's level course concerned with research methods and applications in teaching ESL. I trust my students will find it as helpful as I did.
—Studies in Second Language Acquisition

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0805839089
• ISBN 13: 9780805839081
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 168