Appraising research in second language learning : a practical approach to critical analysis of quantitative research / / Graeme Keith Porte

• Record Nr.: UNINA9910821065003321
• Autore: Porte Graeme Keith
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: Amsterdam ; ; Philadelphia, : John Benjamins Pub. Company, 2010
• ISBN: 1-282-89737-3; 9786612897375; 90-272-8796-1
• Edizione: [2nd ed.]
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (335 p.)
• Collana: Language learning & language teaching ; ; 28
• Disciplina: 418.007/2
• Soggetti: Second language acquisition - Research - Methodology; Language acquisition - Research - Methodology
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Note generali: Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliographical references and index.
• Nota di contenuto: Appraising Research in Second Language Learning -- Editorial page -- Title page -- LCC data -- Table of contents -- Preface -- Why do we need to appraise research? -- Who is this book for? -- How is the material to be used? -- How to use the textbook section -- How to use the workbook section -- Acknowledgements -- Notes on the second edition -- Textbook and worked sample appraisals -- Chapter 1. Introduction -- Worked sample appraisal -- Chapter 2. Introduction -- 2.1. The background to the problem -- 2.2. The problem statement -- 2.3. Initial indication of variables in the problem statement -- 2.4. Stated contribution to theory and practice -- Worked sample appraisal -- Chapter 3. Introduction -- 3.1. Relevance and importance of work cited -- 3.2. Critical address of the literature -- 3.3. Relating the review to the background statement -- 3.4. Time period covered in review -- 3.5. Empirical studies covered in review -- Worked sample appraisal -- Chapter 4. Introduction -- 4.1. Research questions and hypotheses -- 4.2. Nature of the research questions -- 4.3. Nature of the research hypotheses -- 4.4. General appraisal of the research question/hypotheses -- 4.5. Identification of variables -- 4.6. Variables potentially affecting findings -- 4.7. Operational definitions -- Worked sample appraisal -- Chapter 5. Method -- 5.1. Descriptive data: Participants -- 5.2. Descriptive data: Groups -- 5.3. Threats to ; internal validity -- 5.4. Threats to external validity -- 5.5. Descriptive data: Materials -- 5.6. Instruments of measurement: Reliability -- 5.7. Instruments of measurement: Validity -- 5.8. Realisation of main variables -- Worked sample appraisal -- Chapter 6. Method -- Observations -- 6.1. Procedures: timing of events -- 6.2. Procedures: Test or practice effects -- 6.3. Procedures: Ethical issues and instructions to participants.; 6.4. Procedures: Reactivity -- 6.5. Procedures: Environmental conditions -- 6.6. Research design: Design boxes -- 6.7. Research design: Classifications -- Worked sample appraisal -- Procedures and research design 2 -- Chapter 7. Method -- 7.1. Data analysis: Description of procedures -- 7.2. Data analysis: Appropriateness of procedures -- 7.3. Data analysis: Statistical assumptions -- Worked sample appraisal -- Chapter 8. Results -- 8.1. Adequacy of data provided -- 8.2. Graphical displays of results -- 8.3. Descriptive statistics -- 8.4. Statistical procedures -- 8.4.1 Correlation -- 8.4.2 Regression -- 8.4.3 t-tests -- 8.5. Explanations of data -- 8.6. Effect size -- 8.7. Other statistical procedures -- Analyses of variance -- 8.8. Practical significance and meaningfulness -- Worked sample appraisal -- Chapter 9. Discussion and conclusions -- 9.1. Outcomes in terms of the original research questions/hypotheses -- 9.2. Inferences drawn from outcomes -- 9.3. Outcomes related to literature review -- 9.4. Limitations and future research -- 9.5. Practical implications -- 9.6. Assessment of overall confidence -- Worked sample appraisal -- Workbook -- Workbook (guided and unguided appraisals) -- Abstract 3 (Guided appraisal) -- Abstract 4 (Unguided appraisal) -- The background to the problem and the problem statement 3 (Guided appraisal) -- The background to the problem and the problem statement 4 (Unguided appraisal) -- The review of the literature 3 (Guided appraisal) -- The review of the literature 4 (Unguided appraisal) -- Research questions and variables 3 (Guided appraisal) -- Research questions and variables 4 (Unguided appraisal) -- Participants and materials 3 (Guided appraisal) -- Participants and materials 4 (Unguided appraisal) -- Procedures and research design 3 (Guided appraisal) -- Procedures and research design 4 (Unguided appraisal).; Results: The nature and presentation of findings 3 (Guided appraisal) -- Results: The nature and presentation of findings 4 (Unguided appraisal) -- Discussion and conclusions 3 (Guided appraisal) -- Discussion and conclusions 4 (Unguided appraisal) -- Glossary of key terms in quantitative research -- Appendices -- Appendix I Flow Chart -- Appendix II Table of Assumptions for Popular Statistical Tests -- Appendix III Useful statistical tables -- Further reading -- Index of main subject entries in textbook -- The series Language Learning &amp -- Language Teaching.
• Sommario/riassunto: Designed for students of applied linguistics and second language acquisition on research training courses, practising language teachers, and those in training, this combination textbook/workbook is a set or recommended textbook on more than a hundred undergraduate and postgraduate courses worldwide. Now in its second edition, it remains the only book to provide specific advice and support to those wishing to learn a methodical approach to the critical analysis of a research paper. It seeks to answer a current need in the literature for a set of procedures that can be applied to the independent reading of quantitative research. Innovative features of the workbook include awareness-raising reading tasks and guided exercises to help develop and practise the critical skills required to appraise papers independently. Through informed and constructive appraisal of others' work, readers themselves are shown how to become more research ; literate, to discover new areas for investigation, and to organise and present their own work more effectively for publication and peer evaluation. This revised second edition sees a closer integration of the text-and workbook and a number of additions to the text itself, as well as further guided and unguided research appraisal exercises.