Research Methods in Language Teaching and Learning : A Practical Guide

A practical guide to the methodologies used in language teaching and learning research, providing expert advice and real-life examples from leading TESOL researchers

Research Methods in Language Teaching and Learning provides practical guidance on the primary research methods used in second language teaching, learning, and education. Designed to support researchers and students in language education and learning, this highly accessible book covers a wide range of research methodologies in the context of actual practice to help readers fully understand the process of conducting research.

Organized into three parts, the book covers qualitative studies, quantitative studies, and systematic reviews. Contributions by an international team of distinguished researchers and practitioners explain and demonstrate narrative inquiry, discourse analysis, ethnography, heuristic inquiry, mixed methods, experimental and quasi-experimental studies, and more. Each chapter presents an overview of a method of research, an in-depth description of the research framework or data analysis process, and a meta-analysis of choices made and challenges encountered. Offering invaluable insights and hands-on research knowledge to students and early-career practitioners alike, this book:

• Focuses on the research methods, techniques, tools, and practical aspects of performing research
• Provides firsthand narratives and case studies to explain the decisions researchers make
• Compares the relative strengths and weaknesses of different research methods
• Includes real-world examples for each research method and framework to highlight the context of the study
• Includes extensive references, further reading suggestions, and end-of-chapter review questions

Part of the Guides to Research Methods in Language and Linguistics series, Research Methods in Language Teaching and Learning is essential reading for students, educators, and researchers in all related fields, including TESOL, second language acquisition, English language teaching, and applied linguistics.

Kenan Dikilitas is Professor of University Pedagogy at University of Stavanger, Norway. He is the author of several books and articles on language teacher education, action research, and bilingual education in monolingual contexts. His numerous articles have been published in such journals as the System, Teacher Development, ELT Journal, and Educational Action Research.

Kate Mastruserio Reynolds is Professor of TESOL and Literacy at Central Washington University, USA. She has authored and edited many works in the field of TESOL, including Introduction to TESOL: Becoming a Language Teaching Professional with Kenan Dikilits and Steve Close (Wiley Blackwell, 2021). She was Associate Editor of the vocabulary volume of The TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching (Wiley Blackwell, 2018).