Researching Second Language Classrooms

This volume provides graduate students and experienced researchers with a comprehensive guide to applying qualitative and mixed methods in classroom-based research on second language learning and teaching. In addition to coverage of methods for collecting and analyzing data, Researching Second Language Classrooms offers in-depth discussions on a range of practical, theoretical, methodological, and ethical issues that can arise when conducting research in language classrooms. Throughout the volume, the emphasis on building both theoretical knowledge and practical skills helps to facilitate understanding of how qualitative and quantitative methods can complement each other. Each chapter includes examples drawn from a range of research settings as well as tasks for practicing data collection and analysis techniques, questions to prompt reflection, and suggestions for further reading. This book will serve as a valuable text for research methods courses as well as a resource for scholars and researchers of applied linguistics, SLA, and language learning and teaching.

Debra A. Friedman is Associate Professor of Second Language Studies at Indiana University, Bloomington, USA. Her scholarly interests include second and multilingual language socialization, qualitative research methods, and multilingual writing. Recent publications include articles on qualitative research methods in Language Teaching and TESOL Quarterly and a chapter on research ethics in Teaching and Learning Source Based Writing (edited by Rosemary Wette). She is also co-author (with Charlene Polio) of the book Understanding, Evaluating, and Conducting Second Language Writing Research (Routledge).

Part I: Surveying the Field Chapter 1: Classroom-Based Research on Language Learning and Teaching Chapter 2: Introduction to Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research Chapter 3: Methodological and Ethical Criteria for Classroom-Based Research Chapter 4: Designing a Qualitative or Mixed-Methods Classroom-Based Study Part II: Data Collection Chapter 5: Observing and Recording in Language Classrooms Chapter 6: Incorporating Perspectives of Language Teachers and Students Part III: Approaches to Data Analysis Chapter 7: Transcription Chapter 8: Thematic Coding Chapter 9: Analyzing Interaction Chapter 10: Qualitative Discourse Analysis of Written and Multimodal Texts Part IV: Telling the Story Chapter 11: Reporting and Disseminating Results References Index