Empirical Studies of English Unit 13 Empirical Studies of English

Major contents 13.1 Defining empirical research 13.2 Interview-based study of English 13.3 Questionnaire-based study of English 13.4 Experiment-based study of English

13.1 Defining empirical research conceptual research (or theorizing) empirical research Empirical research: Qualitative research Quantitative research P. 260 The table

Variables in empirical research An empirical research probes into the relationship between different variables. To do that, we raise research questions. What are good research questions? [P.260]

Types of variables Independent variables (IV) Dependent variables (DV) Moderator variables (MV) Intervening variables Control variables PP. 275-276 No. 1

Hypothesis A. H0 = null hypothesis: There is no relationship between the English proficiency of Chinese learners of English and their use of conversational repairs. B. H1 = positive, directional hypothesis: There is relation between the English proficiency of Chinese learners of English and their use of conversational repairs. (i.e. the more proficient, the more likely to repair) C. H2 = negative, directional hypothesis: There is some relationship between the English proficiency of Chinese learners of English and their use of conversational repairs. (i.e. the more proficient, the less likely to repair) D. H3 = non-directional hypothesis: There is some relationship between the English proficiency of Chinese learners of English and their use of conversational repairs, but the direction is not specified.

Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics Types of data P.263 Mean, standard deviation P. 65 Frequency, percentage P. 264 T-test, ANOVA, Correlational Analysis P. 265

13.2 Interview-based study of English Types of interview Interview guide Steps of interview P. 267-268 P. 276 No. 3

13.3 Questionnaire-based study of English Designing of a questionnaire Steps of research when using a questionnaire

13.4 Experiment-based study of English Types of experiments Pre-test, treatment, post-test Internal validity vs. external validity Testing effects, pre-test effect PP. 276-277 No. 4, 5 P. 279 No. 5 Hawthorne effect

Assignments PP. 277-278 P. 280 No. 9

Self-teach: Language and Culture Language and Brain [Comment on Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis]