Literature review
*Research questions at the end of the Literature review or beginning of the Method sections. To be consistent they should address:
–how they are relevant for your research aim
–what kind of data is needed to answer them
–how you will access these data
–ideas on how you could analyse the data
(The % refers to the amount of words for the content of each section)
1. The Introduction - 10% (general to specific)
1-2 page long (around 10% - around 1000 words)
CARS model (Establishing territory–Establishing a niche–Occupying the niche)
Consistency (Consistency in intro, background, RQs, methods, data, and discussion)
2. Lit Review/Background - 20-25% (general to specific)
Summarize various types of materials analysis procedures / studies done on similar types of materials
3. Methods - 10-15%
a) why this material?
b) our criteria/ method
c) acknowledge potential weaknesses of criteria/method
d) support with literature/references
Describe the data collection tool, piloting, examples of types of questions, describe analysis procedures, support choices with reference to research methods lit, participants.
Use literature on research methodology:
Dörnyei, Z. (2003). Questionnaires in Second Language Research. Construction, Administration and Processing. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Dörnyei, Z., & Csizér, K. (2012). How to design and analyze surveys in SLA research? In A. Mackey & S. Gass (Eds.), Research methods in second language acquisition: A practical guide, 1, (pp. 74-94).
Piloting
Someone else (either in the target population or a peer) responds to the questions/items. The researcher: a) confirms each item generates what they expect or b) revises items.
The researcher: reports briefly the piloting phase in the Methods section of the essay.