Research Questions 1

Running head: RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Research Questions

Benjamin Stewart

TEC 540: Research Techniques and Procedures

Jacqueline Derby

August 15, 2006

Research Questions 2

Research Questions

This paper proposes three research questions for two different problem statements

pertaining to second-language acquisition effects among Mexican collegiate English

language learners. The primary differences between the two problem statements are

twofold:

1. Problem statement one addresses specifically Mexican language learners

and does not include action research.

2. Problem statement two is address to language learners in general and does

include action research as part of the study.

Problem statement one

Managing classroom time between behavioralism, cognitivism, and

constructivism learning theories (with more emphases on the latter two) can be to the

benefit of the language learner through improved motivation and consequently an

increase in the acquisition of a second or foreign language.

Research question one. Will Mexican language learners at the collegiate level be

more motivated and experience an increase in second-language acquisition in those

classrooms that practice more cognitive and constructive learning theories over the

behavioral learning theory?

Research question two. Is there a significant influence over motivation and

second-language learning acquisition of Mexican language learners at the collegiate level

when considering behavioral, cognitive, or constructive learning theories?

Research Questions 3

Research question three. Will Mexican language learners at the collegiate level be

more motivated and experience an increase in second-language acquisition in those

classrooms that practice a more constructive and cognitive learning theory respectively?

Problem statement two

Managing classroom time between behavioralism, cognitivism, and

constructivism learning theories (with more emphases on the latter two) can be to the

benefit of the language learner through improved motivation which leads to an increase

in second or foreign language acquisition through an increase in teacher training and

dialog that fosters a constructive means of reflecting how teaching influences learning.

Research question one. Will teachers of English to students of other languages

benefit from action research that focuses more on cognitive and constructive learning

theories over the behavioral learning theory as it pertains to language-learner motivation

and second-language acquisition?

Research question two. Do teachers of English to students of other languages

incorporate a highly personalized method of teaching that would not benefit from action

research that focuses on any particular learning theory as it pertains to language-learner

motivation and second-language acquisition?

Research question three. Will teachers of English to students of other languages

benefit from action research that focuses on collaborative teacher-input as to the best

means of incorporating behavioralism, cognitivism, and constructivism in the language-

learning classroom as it pertains to language-learner motivation and second-language

acquisition?

Research Questions 4

Conclusion

Of the two problem statements mentioned, the former would probably be more

feasible to perform. It’s likely that correlative relationships (as opposed to cause-and-

effect relationships) would be involved and how these relationships are influenced by one

particular study group (Mexican language learners at the collegiate level). The plan is to

begin working closer to English department administrators to get their input as to whether

it is necessary to modify the problem statement and/or hypothesis so I may begin my

research by next summer.