chapter 1 - introduction to research

Second Language Research Chapter 1

By Abolfazl Ghanbari

Aims

To know different types of research methods

To identify different parts of a research report

To Identifying research questions

To know Web-based searches

What is research?

The systematic investigation into and study of materials and source in order to establish facts and reach new conclusion (Oxford Dictionary)

Research Methods Quantitative :

Qualitative :

Mixed:

generally starts with an experimental design in which a specific hypothesis precedes the quantification of data with follow-up numerical analyses.

generally is not set up as experiments; the data cannot be easily quantified and the analysis is interpretive rather than statistical.

which used both.

Six mixed forms of research

Research Report

What is research report?

Read the article you have and outline different parts of it in your group.

Typical research paper format

1. Title page2. Abstract3. Body ( introduction, method, result, conclusion) 4. Notes5. References6. Appendices

1. Title page

Name of author(s)Title of paperContact information

2. Abstractpresents a summary of the topic of the paper the major findings of the researchpast research

is usually between 100-150 wordsinforms how it fills a gap in the literature Provides information about what reader can expect from the result

3. Body: Introduction sets the scene and provides the reader with background materialoutline of the purpose of the researchit is usually followed by a literature review

Literature reviews include:Historical overview Major players in this research area, including questions, past findings, and controversiesGeneral goal of the paperResearch questions/hypotheses

3. Body: Method Section ParticipantsMaterials (instrument) ProceduresAnalysis

3. Body: Method Section, ParticipantsHow many participantsWhereTheir characteristicsMale/femaleENL / ESL / EFLAgeProficiency level

Length of residence Amount and type of instruction handedness

3. Body: Method Section, Materials (instrument) The materials used to conduct the study (in detail) You can find different instrument on www.iris-database.orgTreatment materials ad assessment materials This section may be divided into two sections (dealing with treatment materials / dealing with assessment materials)

3. Body: Method Section, ProceduresWhat was actually doneHow exactly the task carried outHow was the treatment administered?How and when was testing done?To ensure that the reader understands what was done, we can use different kind of presentation ( verbal, visual,…)

3. Body: Method Section, AnalysisThe mode of analysis may be a separate section or may be included in the result sectionIt is not always the case all of these categories appear in every research reportSome may be combined, and others may not be relevant

3. Body: Results are presented with verbal descriptions of data, which are also often displayed in charts, figures, or tablesUsually provide objective descriptions presented without interpretation Additional information about statistical result is also presented in the result section

3. Body: Discussion/Conclusion The discussion and conclusion are often two separate sections and are primarily interpretive and explanatory in nature. The main idea of the study may be restated and the findings summarizedThe findings are interpreted in light of the research questions and explanation is attempt.Finally, many studies include a section on the limitations of the study and a section for possible topic for future research

4. NotesPlaces in footnote or endnote

5. References Everything which are cited in the paper appears in the reference list All sources listed in the references list are cited in the paper

Ehri, L. (2000). Learning to read and learning to spell: Two sides of a quencing Program for reading, spelling, and speech. Austin, Texas: Pro-Ed.

6. Appendices

Examples of the materials used in the study

Materials are needed for interpretation of the study

Typical research paper

format

Title page

Abstract

Body

introduction

Method

Participants

Materials

Procedures

Analysis

Result

Discussion / Conclusion

Notes

References

Appendices

Identifying research questions

A: Characteristics of a good RQsQuestions need to be interesting in the sense that they address current issues questions not been answered in the literature or answered but need further investigation The need to be sufficiently narrow and constrained so the can be answeredBroad questions can be difficult, if not impossible

Identifying research questions

B: Where do RQs come from?reading of the literature and an understanding of the history of current issues the conclusion section of many articles suggest questions for future research Extensive reading and analysis of existing research Web-based searchesObserving learners (in and out of class)General feeling of curiosity having observed nonnative speaker linguistic behavior

Identifying research questions

Feasibility (possibility) of RQ depends on: the breadth of the study in relation to its research questions’ scope and

answerability Whether or not is will be possible to obtain the data necessary to answer the

question

Research Questions and Hypotheses

Research problems are generally expressed in terms if research questions and/or hypotheses

RQs are the questions for which answers are being sought while RHs can be used to express what the researcher expects the results of investigation to be.

The hypotheses are based on observation or on what the literature suggests the answers might be

Identifying research questions

Replication If one cannot repeat the result of a particular study, the validity of the results

of the original study might be called into questions The way to more valid and reliable SLA research is through replication

(Vadman, 1993)

Web-based searches

Appendices

Finding recent papers

Your search results are normally sorted by relevance, not by date. To find newer articles, try the following options in the left sidebar:

1.click "Since Year" to show only recently published papers, sorted by relevance;

2.click "Sort by date" to show just the new additions, sorted by date;

3.click the envelope icon to have new results periodically delivered by email.

Locating the full text of an articleAbstracts are freely available for most of the articles. Alas, reading the entire article may require a subscription. Here're a few things to try:

1. click a library link, e.g., "FindIt@Harvard", to the right of the search result;

2. click a link labeled [PDF] to the right of the search result;3. click "All versions" under the search result and check out the

alternative sources;4. click "Related articles" or "Cited by" under the search result to

explore similar articles.

DOI: digital object identifier

http://iranpaper.ir/

http://www.maghalam.com/

www.sciencedirect.com

www.elsevier.com

link.springer.com

onlinelibrary.wiley.com