TY - JOUR

T1 - Research Methodology in Second Language Studies

T2 - Trends, Concerns, and New Directions

AU - King, Kendall A.

AU - Mackey, Alison Jayne

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - The field of second language studies is using increasingly sophisticated methodological approaches to address a growing number of urgent, real‐world problems. These methodological developments bring both new challenges and opportunities. This article briefly reviews recent ontological and methodological debates in the field, then builds on these insights to consider some of the current dilemmas faced by researchers of second language teaching and learning, including concerns regarding fragmentation, generalizability, and replication. Through a review of recent research, we argue that one means of addressing these ongoing questions is to continue to focus collectively and collaboratively on solving real‐world problems of language learning, while also layering our perspectives. By layering, we mean considering the central philosophical challenges, often those that are basic values in our methodological approaches, such as objectivity and bias, from varied epistemological stances. We argue that recognizing these differences and using a layered approach will enhance and improve our attempts to address the pressing problems in our field.

AB - The field of second language studies is using increasingly sophisticated methodological approaches to address a growing number of urgent, real‐world problems. These methodological developments bring both new challenges and opportunities. This article briefly reviews recent ontological and methodological debates in the field, then builds on these insights to consider some of the current dilemmas faced by researchers of second language teaching and learning, including concerns regarding fragmentation, generalizability, and replication. Through a review of recent research, we argue that one means of addressing these ongoing questions is to continue to focus collectively and collaboratively on solving real‐world problems of language learning, while also layering our perspectives. By layering, we mean considering the central philosophical challenges, often those that are basic values in our methodological approaches, such as objectivity and bias, from varied epistemological stances. We argue that recognizing these differences and using a layered approach will enhance and improve our attempts to address the pressing problems in our field.

KW - mixed methods

KW - qualitative

KW - quantitative

KW - technique

KW - paradigm

KW - ethnography

U2 - 10.1111/modl.12309

DO - 10.1111/modl.12309

M3 - Journal article

VL - 100

SP - 209

EP - 227

JO - Modern Language Journal

JF - Modern Language Journal

SN - 0026-7902

IS - Suppl. 1

ER -