Scribd
Upload
32 views

Research in Language Teaching (Intro)

This document provides an overview of key concepts in research in language teaching. It defines research as a systematic process involving a question, data, and analysis. It distinguishes between basic research, which seeks knowledge for its own sake, and applied research, which aims to solve real-world problems. The document also outlines three dominant research paradigms - positivism, constructivism, and critical theory. It provides examples of the types of topics that can be researched in language teaching and discusses quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Finally, it outlines the typical steps involved in conducting research.

Uploaded by

Regina Cahyani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
32 views

Research in Language Teaching (Intro)

This document provides an overview of key concepts in research in language teaching. It defines research as a systematic process involving a question, data, and analysis. It distinguishes between basic research, which seeks knowledge for its own sake, and applied research, which aims to solve real-world problems. The document also outlines three dominant research paradigms - positivism, constructivism, and critical theory. It provides examples of the types of topics that can be researched in language teaching and discusses quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Finally, it outlines the typical steps involved in conducting research.

Uploaded by

Regina Cahyani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 13

RESEARCH IN LANGUAGE

TEACHING
AN INTRODUCTION

By Fitrawati
What is research?

A systematic process of inquiry consisting of


three elements or components: (1) a
question, problem or hypothesis, (2) data,
and (3) analysis and interpretation.”
(Nunan 1992: 3)
Basic VS Applied Research

 Basic research: acquire knowledge for the sake of


knowledge get more complete understanding of world
 Applied research: “Deals with human and societal
problems in the hopes of finding solutions to real-
world problems. ”Not trying to postulate theory but
trying to find answers for a specific time, place and
context.
(McKay 2006, 4)
Research paradigms

 Paradigm is a set of basic beliefs


 Threedominant paradigms: Positivism,
Constructivism, Critical Theory.
 Paradigm wars of the ’70s and ‘80s over. More
pragmatism reigns now but getting an overview
still daunting for new researchers“…
 POSITIVISM, based on the assumption that we can test our
hypotheses about the nature of the world through a process
of carefully constructed experimentation or measurement.
 This came to be challenged by CONSTRUCTIVISM, which
rejected the objectification of knowledge and sought instead
to understand, through locally situated investigation,
participants’ social construction of reality.
A third paradigm associated with CRITICAL THEORY
demanded an analysis of participant perspectives based on
the recognition that these reflected power asymmetries
produced by social and historical forces.” (Richards 2009,
148)
Research: What? Strictly speaking
anything in language teaching.
 Language policy
 Syllabus, curriculum
 Materials, textbooks, etc.
 Technology
 Methodology
 Specific skills
 Teaching of grammar, vocabulary, etc.
 Language for specific purposes
 Culture
 Motivation, affective factors
Overall Methodology Approach to
research
 Quantitativeresearch (e.g. cross-sectional
process-product)
 Qualitative
 Ethnographic
 Action research
 Case study
 Mixed method research
What is quantitative and qualitative
research?
 Quantitative Research
 a type of research in which the researcher decides what
to study
 asks specific, narrow questions collects numeric data
from participants
 analyzes these numbers using statistics
 conducts the inquiry in an unbiased, objective manner
Qualitative research

 A type of research in which the researcher relies on the


following:
 views of participants,
 ask broad, and general questions,
 collects data consisting largely of words (or text) from
participants,
 describes and analyzes these words for themes,
 conducts the inquiry in a subjective, biased manner.
Research: Who? Researchers: Being
researched: Teachers
 Learners (why not?)
 Beingresearched: Learners (individuals, grades,
groups: age, proficiency, etc.)
 All teaching material
 Teaching situation
 Texts
Research: Steps of research
 Determine general research area/topic
 Do survey of literature, i.e. research the topic
 Formulate research question or hypothesis
 Determine aim of research
 Describe theoretical basis
 Determine research design:
 Methodology
 Tools
 Collect data
 Describe process and results
 Discussion and Conclusion

You might also like