1. Empirical Studies of English
Unit 13
Empirical Studies of English

2. 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

3. 13.1 Defining empirical research
conceptual research (or theorizing)
empirical research
Empirical research:
Qualitative research
Quantitative research
P. 260 The table

4. 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]

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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 13.2 Interview-based study of English
Types of interview
Interview guide
Steps of interview P
P No. 3

9. 13.3 Questionnaire-based study of English
Designing of a questionnaire
Steps of research when using a questionnaire

10. 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 No. 4, 5
P No. 5 Hawthorne effect

11. Assignments PP
P No. 9

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