Applied Linguistics Research
A Comprehensive Guide to Methodology, Design, Analysis, and Evaluation

A complete guide to second language and applied linguistics research, covering every step of the research process.

Hossein Nassaji (Author)

9781108480673, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 11 September 2025

824 pages
26.1 x 18.6 x 5.1 cm, 1.69 kg

Designed for graduate students, instructors, and seasoned researchers, this is an essential guide for robust research design and methodology in applied linguistics, covering qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research. It adopts a structured approach, starting with the foundational principles of research design, methodology, and data collection and analysis, to writing and interpreting, explaining, and reporting research results, bringing together all the steps and processes of research from start to finish in one single volume in a way that is practical, easy to follow, and easy to understand. Throughout, the emphasis is on the process of research and the application of various research techniques and principles across different areas. These characteristics, coupled with numerous pedagogical features such as key term reviews, visuals, research scenarios, and many discussion and activity questions, make the book an indispensable reference and a valuable textbook for courses in second language and applied linguistics research.

Part I. Introduction to Applied Linguistics Research: 1. Introduction: the nature of and purpose of research
2. Applied linguistics research: its nature, significance and scope
3. Ethics in applied linguistics research: principles, best practices, and challenges
Part II. Research Process and Designing Research: 4. The research process: a 10 step model
5. A framework for understanding research types
6. Understanding and describing research constructs and variables
7. Review of the literature and the development of research questions
Part III. Quantitative Research Designs and Data Collection: 8. Selecting participants for quantitative research: sampling techniques and methods
9. Designing quantitative research: types and techniques
10. Collecting quantitative data: tools and techniques
11. Understanding and assessing reliability in quantitative research
12. Understanding and assessing validity in quantitative research
Part IV. Qualitative Research Designs, Data Collection and Analysis: 13. Selecting participants for qualitative research sampling techniques and methods
14. Designing qualitative research: types and techniques
15. Collecting qualitative data: methods and strategies
16. Analyzing qualitative data: techniques and strategies
17. Understanding and establishing reliability and validity in qualitative research
Part V. Quantitative Research Data Analysis and Interpretation: 18. Analyzing quantitative data: descriptive statistics
19. Analyzing quantitative data: exploring key concepts in inferential statistics
20. Commonly used inferential statistics tests in applied linguistics research: parametric tests
21. Commonly used inferential statistics tests in applied linguistics research: non-parametric tests
22. Advanced statistical models: GLMs, mixed models, and multivariate analysis
23. Effect sizes: types, calculations, and interpretation
Part VI. Carrying Out Mixed Methods Research: 24. Mixed methods research: integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches
Part VII. Dissemination of Research Findings: 25. Disseminating research findings: writing research reports.

Subject Areas: Linguistics [CF]