Research Methods in Second Language Acquisition: A Practical Guide

“With its cornucopia of information, both thorough and practical, this book is a must for our methodology shelves. Its study questions and project suggestions will be a boon for many research methods courses.”
Robert M. DeKeysevr, University of Maryland

“This guide to collecting, coding and analyzing second language acquisition data will be an essential reference for novice and experienced researchers alike.”
Peter Robinson, Aoyama Gakuin University

“Comprehensive and technically up-to-date, yet accessible and cogent! This remarkable textbook is sure to become a premier choice for the research training of many future SLA generations.”
Lourdes Ortega, University of Hawaii

“Alison Mackey and Susan Gass’ valuable new book offers hands-on methodological guidance from established experts on all kinds of second language research.”
Michael H. Long, University of Maryland

Research Methods in Second Language Acquisition: A Practical Guide is an informative guide to research design and methodology in this growing and vibrant field. Utilizing research methods and tools from varied fields of study including education, linguistics, psychology, and sociology, this collection offers complete coverage of the techniques of second language acquisition research.

This guide covers a variety of topics, such as second language writing and reading, meta-analyses, research replication, qualitative data collection and analysis, and more. Each chapter of this volume offers background, step-by-step guidance, and relevant studies to create comprehensive coverage of each method. This carefully selected and edited volume will be a useful text for graduate students and scholars looking to keep pace with the latest research projects and methodologies in second language acquisition.

Alison Mackey is Professor of Linguistics and Head of the Applied Linguistics Programs at Georgetown University. She has published ten books, including Conversational Interaction in Second Language Acquisition (2007), and more than 50 articles and book chapters on second language learning by children and adults.

Susan M. Gass is University Distinguished Professor and Director of both the English Language Center and the Second Language Studies Ph.D. Program at Michigan State University. She has published widely in the field of second language acquisition, including Second Language Acquisition: An Introductory Course with Larry Selinker (2008), and has served as the president of AAAL and of AILA.