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Newly updated and revised, this popular text provides a solid introduction to the foundations of research methods, with the goal of enabling students and professionals in the field of applied linguistics to become not just casual consumers of research who passively read bits and pieces of a research article, but discerning consumers able to effectively use published research for practical purposes in educational settings. All issues important for understanding and using published research for these purposes are covered. Key principles are illustrated with research studies published in refereed journals across a wide spectrum of applied linguistics. Exercises throughout the text encourage readers to engage interactively with what they are reading at the point when the information is fresh in their minds. Changes in the Second Edition: New examples in chapter 2 reflecting formatting changes made by ERIC Major reordering in chapter 4 to better represent the sample types Reorganization of chapters 6 and 7 to enhance cohesion of the themes being discussed Updated references and recommended reading lists in all chapters
List of contents
Preface List of Acronyms and Abbreviations PART I: FUNDAMENTALS FOR DISCERNING CONSUMERS 1 Understanding the Nature of Research 2 How to Locate Research PART II: THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF PUBLISHED RESEARCH 3 Understanding the Framework of a Primary Research Article 4 Understanding Where Data Come From: The Sample 5 Understanding Research Designs Section 1: Classifying Research Designs Section 2: Questions and Designs Section 3: Internal Validity 6 Understanding Data Gathering 7 Understanding Research Results Section 1: Presentation and Analysis of Verbal Data Section 2: Presentation and Analysis of Numerical Data 8 Discerning Discussions & Conclusions: Completing the Picture Appendix A Constructing a Literature Review Appendix B Going to the Next Level of Statistics Appendix C Journals Related to Applied Linguistics Glossary References Web site References Index
About the author
Professor Fred L. Perry, Jr. has spent over half his life outside of the U.S.A., where he and his family have lived and worked in nine countries.a He is Professor Emeritus at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, where he taught research methods and language assessment in the M.A. TEFL program and also headed their Testing & Evaluation Service over a 19 year period.
