TYPES OF RESEARCH IN ELT

INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH IN ELT #4

ENTUSIASTIK SS., M.A
Understanding Basic Research Concepts
Thorngate (1976) suggested that because of
“commensurate complexity,” no theory of
social behavior (or the research on which it
is based) can be simultaneously general,
accurate, and simple
What to expect from a research/a study?
McKay (2006) asserts research would not provide definitive answers to
pedagogical issues, questions, or dilemmas. Rather, research could contribute to
more effective teaching by suggesting new ways of looking at something. As
Johnson (1992) notes: The importance of research is not so much that it supplies
definitive answers to questions such as “What is the best way to learn a
language?” or “which is the most effective method of L2 teaching?” It does not.
Rather, research can help us gain a richer understanding of the many interrelated
factors involved in learning. It can help us see how the ways we organize learning
environments can promote or inhibit growth.
Research Areas in Second Language Learning/Teaching
and Applied Linguistics

1.Second Language Acquisition

2.Second Language Pragmatics
3.Sociocultural and Sociolinguistics Theory
4.Corpora in ELT
5.Second Language skills, components, and literacy
6.Methods and instructions in Second Language Teaching
7.Second Language assessment
8.Teacher Education and Teacher Development
9.EAP and ESP
10.English as a Lingua Franca
Trends of research over the last decade