3 Developing a research plan

3 Developing a research planDAVID NUNAN

The messiness of the research process

It may be too strong to suggest that there is a ‘conspiracy of silence’ among academics about the problems, the possibilities, the limitations and the pressures of research practice; but certainly for most graduate researchers working in comparative isolation, it is painful to discover the extent of compromise and ambiguity inherent in their work.

(Dingwall 1984: 1)

establishing an area of interest

 from theory to data? or 

data to theory?

Discussion

Where do research interests / ideas come from?

Creating a research question From area of interest, e.g. ‘learning styles and strategies’ to specific questions.

Does learning strategy training make a difference?

Do the learning strategies of effective and ineffective learners differ?

 Creating an overall framework

Experimental or naturalistic (or both)?  Qualitative or quantitative data (or both)?  Statistical or interpretive analysis (or

both)?

Research questionsDoable? (feasibility)

Worth doing? (value)Rationale? > ‘to find out’? / ‘to improve things’

Subjects / informantsSample? What’s the population?

Longitudinal? Subject attrition

Data collection

Range of methods Feasibility of methods  Field testing / piloting

Data analysis

Statistical or interpretive analysis? Separability of data collection and analysis 

Multiple data sources

Results Expected outcomes? Expected benefits

Producing a research plan: Step 1 - 5

(1) Identify a research area, or issue that you are interested in investigating.

Frame the issue as a question or hypothesis.

(2) Decide on a research paradigm. Given your question, will you use a quantitative, qualitative or mixed-method design?

(3) Identify the subjects or informants for your study. If you are doing a quantitative study, what is your target population?

(4) Decide on the type of data you will collect, and the steps you will go through in collecting the data.

(5) Decide on the data analysis procedures.

If you would like to know more

Nunan, D. & K. Bailey. 2009. Exploring Second Language Classroom Research. Boston MA: Heinle / Cengage Learning.