Source:
Wen, Qiufang. Applied Linguistics: Research Methods and Thesis Writing. Beijing: Foreign
Language Teaching and Research Press, 2001.
(Adapted and Abridged Version)
Part One Introduction of Research
I. The Definition of Research
A. Definitions
Collins English Language Dictionary:
Research is “a detailed study of a subject or an aspect of a subject. If you do research, you collect
data and analyze facts and information and try to gain new knowledge or new understanding”.
Technical definition by Hatch and Farhady (Research Design and Statistics for Applied
Linguistics, 1982):
Research is “a systematic approach to finding answers to questions”.
B. A Simplified Model of Research:
Purpose (Questions), Process (Systematic Approach), Product (Answers)
1. Having Good Questions
a. Significant.
A significant question must be of practical and / or theoretical value.
b. Original.
A research question is regarded as original when it is different from questions which have
been asked by other researchers in one or more aspects. In other words, an original question
does not need to be totally new.
c. Answerable. An answerable question is one that can be tackled by the researcher within
the time and resources available.
2. Employing a Systematic Approach
Research should follow a set of procedures which are clearly described and can be fully justified.
The research procedures in some cases are predetermined in the sense that they are decided before
the data-collection while in other cases they are developed during the research process. In either
case, the procedures used for selecting subjects, data-collection and data-analysis should be
recorded and reported to other researchers.
3. Obtaining Valid Answers
When an answer is said to be valid, it means that the claimed answer is the only answer we can
obtain. If there is any alternative answer, the validity of the study will be called into question.
II. Visualizing the Research Process
A. The Research Wheel
The research process consists of at least two cycles and each cycle contains four stages. The
sequential activities within the first cycle include: empirical observation, developing a proposition,
constructing a theoretical framework and generating specific research questions. Those within the
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