To know different types of research methods To identify different parts of a research report To Identifying research questions To know Web-based searches

1. Second Language
Research
Chapter 1
By Abolfazl Ghanbari

2. 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

3. What is research?
The systematic investigation into and study of
materials and source in order to establish facts
and reach new conclusion (Oxford Dictionary)

4. 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.

5. Six mixed forms of research

6. Research Report
What is research report?
Read the article you have and outline different parts of it in your group.

7. Typical research paper format
1. Title page
2. Abstract
3. Body ( introduction, method, result, conclusion)
4. Notes
5. References
6. Appendices

8. 1. Title page
Name of author(s)
Title of paper
Contact information

9. 2. Abstract
presents
a summary of the topic of the paper
the major findings of the research
past research
is usually between 100-150 words
informs how it fills a gap in the literature
Provides information about what reader can expect from the result

10. 3. Body: Introduction
sets the scene and provides the reader with background
material
outline of the purpose of the research
it is usually followed by a literature review

11. Literature reviews include:
Historical overview
Major players in this research area, including questions,
past findings, and controversies
General goal of the paper
Research questions/hypotheses

12. 3. Body: Method Section
Participants
Materials (instrument)
Procedures
Analysis

13. 3. Body: Method Section, Participants
How many participants
Where
Their characteristics
Male/female
ENL / ESL / EFL
Age
Proficiency level
Length of residence
Amount and type of instruction
handedness

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

16. 3. Body: Method Section, Procedures
What was actually done
How exactly the task carried out
How 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,…)

18. 3. Body: Method Section, Analysis
The mode of analysis may be a separate section or may be included in the
result section
It is not always the case all of these categories appear in every research
report
Some may be combined, and others may not be relevant

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

21. 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 summarized
The 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

22. 4. Notes
Places in footnote or endnote

23. 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.

24. 6. Appendices
Examples of the materials used in the study
Materials are needed for interpretation of the study

25. Typical research
paper format
Title page
Abstract
Body
introduction
Method
Participants
Materials
Procedures
Analysis
Result
Discussion /
Conclusion
Notes
References
Appendices

26. Identifying research questions
A: Characteristics of a good RQs
Questions 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
answered
Broad questions can be difficult, if not impossible

27. 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 searches
Observing learners (in and out of class)
General feeling of curiosity having observed nonnative speaker linguistic
behavior

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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)

31. Web-based searches
Appendices

33. 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.

34. Locating the full text of an article
Abstracts 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.

35. DOI: digital object identifier

36. http://iranpaper.ir/

37. http://www.maghalam.com/

38. www.sciencedirect.com
www.elsevier.com
link.springer.com
onlinelibrary.wiley.com