Dornie Research Methods in

Book & Materials Reviews
Research Methods in Applied

Linguistics
Zoltan Dornyei. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2007.
Given the increased modes of investigation that are now

possible, it is unlikely that any single book on research methods can
give readers enough to initiate, much less complete, an empirical
study. Nevertheless, in Research Methods in Applied Linguistics,
Dornyei attempts the almost impossible task of summarizing,
explaining, and offering procedural steps for various research
methods. An important question is, does this text help researchers,
especially novice researchers, get started?
To answer this question, Dornyei offers readers 316 pages, 271
references, and 14 chapters divided into five sections. The first
section discusses key issues in research methodology, one being
the idea that data is important. This assumption will probably
appeal to novice researchers because data is concrete and therefore
easier to grasp than design, the abstract but equally important
way research is conceived of and arranged to establish internal
causality and external generalizability. This concern with data leads
Dornyei to a discussion of quantitative and qualitative data,
which in turn leads to consideration of different approaches to
research. This section closes with an appeal to researchers to
employ mixed methods (i.e., research using quantitative as well as
qualitative data).
The second section focuses on data collection and accounts for
roughly 100 of the books pages. It is by far the longest section in the
book, a fact that points to how important data is for Dornyei.
Chapter 5 covers quantitative data, questionnaires, and experimental design. Chapter 6 deals with qualitative data, ethnography,
interviews, case study design, and diary research. Chapter 7 is
devoted to mixed methods and the gathering, analysis, and
interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data.
TESOL Journal 1.1, March 2010
doi: 10.5054/tj.2010.215611
181
The topic of the third section is data analysis. Chapter 9

describes ways to analyze quantitative data using statistics such as
Cronbachs Alpha, t-tests, and ANOVA. Chapter 10 addresses
qualitative content analysis, including nearly five pages on
grounded theory. Chapter 11 concludes the section by considering
data analysis in mixed-methods research.
The fourth section focuses on quantitative as well as mixedmethods reports.
The fifth and final section consists of a short conclusion on
personal and practical considerations, on topics such as the role of
research questions.
This book has many strengths, but I will highlight only five.
First, Dornyei provides historical background for many of the
techniques he discusses, which should help readers overcome the
notion, common among those of us in second language research
and applied linguistics, that we work with ahistorical concepts. In
fact, we are historically positioned, and Dornyei helps clarify our
context and where we came from. Second, Dornyei frequently
mentions the strengths and weaknesses of many of the topics in this
book. Too frequently, advocates of various research positions
present only the strengths of their argument. Third, many confusing
research concepts are well explained. For example, confidence
intervals are a mystery to many researchers, but Dornyei explains
them and describes how SPSS can provide them. Effect size is also
adequately addressed.
In his discussion of grounded theory, Dornyei clearly
demystifies coding, and although he probably does not offer
enough information for researchers trying to create a theory, it is an
excellent introduction. This leads to the fourth strength: Research
Methods in Applied Linguistics is highly referenced, providing
readers with current publications to consult beyond the text.
Finally, Dornyei gives insights based on his own research
experience, which helps readers new to research better grasp the
real struggle that goes on behind the scenes.
This is an ambitious book, and in trying to cover everything,
Dornyei runs the risk of not covering some concepts adequately. For
example, classic reliability gets less than 1 page; perhaps
quantitative-oriented reliability deserves more than that. Dornyei
182
TESOL Journal
consistently slights research designs in favor of data collection.

He gives less than 4 pages to action research and less than 5 to
grounded theory, but 15 to questionnaire development. In addition,
by using the term method to refer to both research design and data
collection, he does not give readers a clear distinction between
them. Dornyei denies that he is interested in philosophy of research,
and that quantitative and qualitative are finally separate, but he
keeps coming back to the difference between qualitative and
quantitative data collection and analysis. In fact, he never gets
far away from data and data collection, even at the expense of
what I would call research design.
Does this text help researchers, especially novice researchers,
get started? Despite the primary concern with data collection and
analysis, the answer is yes. Although research designs are not
afterthoughts, they are explained in the context of data. This may
give the impression that designs lack much of an independent
existence, or if they do, they are less important as data collection
instruments. As a result, readers will likely be happy with the
discussion of data and its analysis, but less aware of the
important role of designs.
Reviewed by Dale T. Griffee
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas, United States
Book and Materials Reviews
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Book & Materials Reviews

Research Methods in Applied

Given the increased modes of investigation that are now

The topic of the third section is data analysis. Chapter 9

consistently slights research designs in favor of data collection.

Book and Materials Reviews

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