Includes bibliographical references

Acknowledgements; Introduction; CHAPTER 1: WHAT IS RESEARCH?; Introduction; Research as a natural process; Scientific research and common sense; Finding answers: How do we know something?; Basic, applied, and practical research; Summary; Activities; References; CHAPTER 2: A PARADIGM FOR SECOND LANGUAGE RESEARCH; Research and the phenomena of second language; Four parameters for second language research; Parameter 1: Synthetic and analytic approaches; Parameter 2: Heuristic and deductive objectives; Parameter 3: Control and manipulation of the research context; Parameter 4: Data and data collection; Summary; Activities; References; CHAPTER 3: THE PREPARATORY STAGES OF RESEARCH; Introduction; Where do research questions come from?; Phase 1: The general question; Phase 2: Focusing the question; Phase 3: Deciding on an objective or purpose; Phase 4: Formulating the research plan or the hypothesis; Summary; Activities; References; CHAPTER 4: CONTEXTUALIZATION OF RESEARCH; The what and why of contextualization; Locating the sources for the literature review; Reading the literature; Organizing and reporting the review of the literature; Summary; Activities; References; CHAPTER 5: THE COMPONENTS OF RESEARCH; The need for a plan; The research plan and the type of research; Making predictions and controlling variables; Making the research more effective; Types of data and variables; Internal and external validity; Summary; Activities; References; CHAPTER 6: RESEARCH DESIGN: QUALITATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH; Introduction; Qualitative research; Descriptive research; Multivariate and correlational research; Summary; Activities; References; CHAPTER 7: RESEARCH DESIGN: EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH; Introduction; The major components of experimental research; Single group designs; Designs using control groups; Factorial designs; Quasi-experimental designs; Separate sample designs; Summary; Activities; References; CHAPTER 8: DATA AND DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES; Introduction; The data c

Based on a set of four research parameters, this book discusses the development of research questions and hypotheses, naturalistic and experimental research, data collection, and validation of research instruments. Each chapter includes examples and activities.