Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly (Formerly Journal of Teaching Language Skills)

A Biographical Narrative Analysis of the Challenges of Applied Linguists across Different Research Abilities to Conduct Qualitative Studies

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Department of English Language, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran

Abstract

Conducting qualitative research in applied linguistics seems to have some challenges. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the challenges of applied linguists across different research abilities to conduct qualitative studies. To that end, the biographical narratives, authored by 13 applied linguists, were collected. Then, the narratives were analyzed through qualitative data analysis principles, including organizing and familiarizing, coding and reducing, and interpreting and presenting (Ary et al., 2014). The findings showed that applied linguists face four challenges: methodological issues, technical issues, ethical issues, and qualitative research dissemination while doing qualitative research. The findings also indicated similarities and differences among applied linguists' challenges across different research abilities. It can be concluded that teaching qualitative research is more than mere lecturing about qualitative concepts. Thus, there should be practice-based instruction on qualitative research for applied linguistics students. Moreover, there should be a community for addressing pedagogical dialogs among applied linguists about doing qualitative research.

Keywords

References
Andrews, M., Squire, C., & Tamboukou, M. (2008). Doing narrative research. London: Sage Publication.
Ary, D., Jacobs, L., C., Sorensen, C., K., & Walker, D. (2014). Introduction to research in education (9th Ed). Wadsworth: Cengage Learning.
Bakhshi, H., Weisi, H., & Yousofi, N. (2019a). Challenges of qualitative inquiries in Iranian ELT higher education context: Ph.D. students’ and faculty members’ voices. Journal of Teaching Language Skills, 38(1), 37-78.
Bakhshi, H., Weisi, H., & Yousofi, N. (2019b). Challenges of conducting qualitative research in the Iranian higher education: Voices from ELT faculty members. Iranian Journal of Comparative Education, 2(2), 244-278.
Benson, P. (2013). Qualitative methods: Overview. In C. A. Chapelle (Ed.), The encyclopedia of applied linguistics (pp. 1–10). Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
Benson, P., Chik, A., Gao, X., Huang, J., & Wang, W. (2009). Qualitative research in language teaching and learning journals, 1997–2006. The Modern Language Journal, 93(1), 79–90.
Berger, R. (2015). Now I see it, now I don’t: Researcher’s position and reflexivity in qualitative research. Qualitative Research, 15(2), 219-234.
Boström, P. K. (2019). In search of themes–keys to teaching qualitative analysis in higher education. The Qualitative Report, 24(5), 1001-1011.
Carter, R. (2005). Review of Sealey and Carter, Applied linguistics as a social science. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 15(2) 248-251.
Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (2008). Basics of qualitative research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among the five approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. Thousand Oak: Sage Publications.
Davies, A. (2007). Introduction to applied linguistics: From practice to theory. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
De Fina, A. (2015). Narratives and identity. In A. De Fina, & A. Georgakopoulou (Eds.), The handbook of narrative analysis (pp. 351-368).  New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2011). Introduction: The discipline and practice of qualitative research. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of qualitative research (pp. 1–19). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Freeman, M. (2015). Narrative as a mode of understanding.  In A. De Fina, & A. Georgakopoulou (Eds.), The handbook of narrative analysis (pp. 19-37).  New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Grabe, W. (January 2001). Anniversary newsletter of the applied linguistics association of Australia. NO. 44. 
Guba, E. G., & Lincoln, Y. S. (1988). Do inquiry paradigms imply inquiry methodologies? In D. M. Fetterman (Ed.), Qualitative approaches to evaluation in education (pp. 89–115). New York, NY: Praeger.
Heigham, J., & Croker, R. (2009). Qualitative research in applied linguistics: A practical introduction. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Holloway, I., & Todres, L. (2007). Thinking differently: Challenges in qualitative research. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 2(1), 12-18.
Kilburn, D., Nind, M., & Wiles, R. (2014). Learning as researchers and teachers: The development of a pedagogical culture for social science research methods? British Journal of Educational Studies, 62(2), 191-207.
Lazaraton, A. (2000). Current trends in research methodology and statistics in applied linguistics. TESOL Quarterly, 34(1), 175-181.
Lazaraton, A., Riggenbach, H., & Ediger, A. (1987). Forming a discipline: Applied linguists' literacy in research methodology and statistics. TESOL Quarterly, 21(2), 263-277.
Lew, S., Yang, A. H., & Harklau, L. (2018). Qualitative methodology. In A. Phakiti, P. De Costa, L. Plonsky, & S. Starfield (Eds.), The Palgrave handbook of applied linguistics research methodology (pp. 79-101). London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Maxwell, J. A. (2005). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publication.
Phakiti, A., De Costa, P., Plonsky, L., & Starfield, S. (2018). Applied linguistics research: Current issues, methods, and trends. In A. Phakiti, P. De Costa, L. Plonsky, & S. Starfield (Eds.), The Palgrave handbook of applied linguistics research methodology (pp. 5-29). London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Richards, K. (2003). Qualitative inquiry in TESOL. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Richards, K. (2009). Trends in qualitative research in language teaching since 2000. Language Teaching, 42(2), 147–180.
Woods, P. (1985). Conversations with teachers: Some aspects of the life‐history method. British Educational Research Journal, 11(1), 13-26.
Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly (Formerly Journal of Teaching Language Skills)
Volume 39, Issue 1
May 2020
Pages 45-70
Files
History
  • Receive Date: 27 June 2020
  • Revise Date: 28 September 2020
  • Accept Date: 05 October 2020
Share
How to cite
Statistics