Research Methods in
Linguistics and
Professional Development
(The Show Must Begin)
Alexander Kuptsov,
Senior ESL Teacher,
English Language Department, HSE Law School
Moscow
Higher School of Economics , Moscow, 2013
www.hse.ru
Current Situation
1. Teaching is not
research
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2. No more choice
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3. How to start? =
What do we need to
know?
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Further Reading: Simon Borg, English Language Teachers’ Conceptions of Research, Applied Linguistics,
September 2009 (30/3)
Higher School of Economics , Moscow, 2013
What Do We Need to Know?
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Higher School of Economics , Moscow, 2013
Research - How Do You See
It?
Free Associations
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Cue Word
1. Research
2. Research
3. Research
4. Research
5. Research
6. Research
7. Research
8. Research
9. Research
10. Research
Response
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Is this a research?
Higher School of Economics , Moscow, 2013
Research or Teaching
Classify the following concepts
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Literature review
Error correction
Data collection
Students and teachers
Language skills
Interview
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Quantitative methods
Data analysis
Interaction pattern
Fluency and accuracy
Classroom management
Higher School of Economics , Moscow, 2013
photomethods
Qualitative
Broad Categories of Research
Research
Secondary
Primary
Literature
Review
Library
Research
Survey Research
(Interviews,
Questionnaires)
Statistical Research
(Descriptive, Exploratory,
Experimental,
Quasiexperimental)
Qualitative
Research
Qualitative Research
Qualitative
research
involves
data
collection
procedures that result primarily in open-ended nonnumeric data which are then analyzed primarily by non
statistical methods.
(Research Methods in Applied Linguistics by Zoltan Dörney, p.24)
Qualitative Research Main Characteristics
Emergent research design (no aspect is tightly prefigured)
Wide range of data (field notes, diaries, verbal protocols, etc.)
Natural setting
Small sample-size
Interpretive analysis
Qualitative Research Strengths and Weaknesses
+
-
Exploratory nature
Sample size
Rich material
Researcher role
Broadening
understanding
Lack or rigor
Flexibility
Time-consuming
Qualitative Research Data Collection
In qualitative research there are no explicit restrictions on what can be considered
‘data’ and the researcher in a qualitative project often starts by treating everything
around a topic as potential data.
(Research Methods in Applied Linguistics by Zoltan Dörney, p.125)
•
•
•
•
•
Ethnography
Interview
Introspective methods
Case studies
Diary studies
Qualitative Research
Quantitative research involves data collection
procedures that result primarily in numerical data which
are analyzed primarily by statistical methods, for
example, a survey research which using a
questionnaire, analyzed by statistical software such as
SPSS.
(Research Methods in Applied Linguistics by Zoltan Dörney, p.24)
Qualitative Research Main Characteristics
Using numbers
A priory categorization
Variables rather than cases
Statistics and the language of statistics
Standardized procedures to assess
objective reality
Positive
Quantitative Research Strengths and
Weaknesses
• Big sample
size
• Measurement
• Focused
Research
• Limited
explanatory
capacity
Negative
• Reliable data
• Average out
responses
Quantitative Research Data Collection
Sample -
a group of participants whom the researcher actually
examines in an empirical investigation
Population -
the group of people whom the study is about
Sampling procedures -
procedures that are adopted to select a smaller number
of people to be investigated
Conclusion
Areas to study:
1. Nature of research (validity and reliability)
2. Research methods (qualitative, quantitative,
mixed methods)
1. Applied Linguistics as a whole (areas and
study methods)
Thank you for your attention!
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