Meaning of Research As Seliger and shahamy motivation, and learning opportunities, learning

(1989) said, research is "the formalization of styles and strategies account for the child's or
natural processes we all carry from birth in dealing learner's first and second language acquisition and
with the environment? It begins with curiosity learning? How do mental processes translate the
about a certain phenomenon and it attempts to learner's existing knowledge of the universal
seek the truth on facts about the relationships of properties of language in coping with
the variables that influence the observed communication difficulties? what differences are
phenomenon. It aims to describe', identify, control there in the way in which individual learners
relationships among phenomena to test existing acquire a language? what effects does instruction
principles and develop a theory. have on second language acquisition learning? All
these questions caused experts to find answers. to
Research involves scientific process. It requires
these queries by Conducting scientific research.
systematic procedure in investigating observable
Thus, the final objective of research is to arrive at
phenomenon - The researcher studies the data
some principles that people have not yet known
objectively and examines critically the findings of
before the investigation began.
his/her own investigation against these conducted
by others, after which he/she identities the Common sense, as pointed out by Seliger
weaknesses and strengths of his/her own study. and Shohamy. is just an initial step to testing a
theory in a systematic, con-trolled, empirical and
Principles and conclusions are not simply
critical investigation of a hypothesis based on
based on Commonsense which may tend to be
existing theories relating to the problem (Kerlinger,
incorrect-but based on a carefully well-planned
72).
systematic Inquiry. Although Kerlinger (1972) stated
that common sense and science are similar for the It can be said then that research follows
latter is a systematic extension of common sense, certain steps. which begin with the identification of
they still differ in many respects. Selltiz, et al., the problem, formulating hypothesis based on
(1976) as mentioned by Catune (2000), cited that existing theories and principles, data gathering, and
common sense beliefs are not subjected to integration of the findings and conclusions into the
established principles and to a systematic inquiry; stream of knowledge.
on the other hand, science involves a thorough and
However, research Concerns obtaining knowledge
an objective study of observable events based on
which may come from four different types of
tested theoretical framework. and learn their first
sources:
language by imitating the words and phrases they
hear from their parents and other speakers, as TYPE 1: KNOWLEDGE AS BELIEF. Conclusions are
suggested by common rent, until language experts not based on empirical investigation, but on
who were not just content on describing "learner Common sense; they should be considered as
language" For several years, many believed that bases for forming hypotheses rather than
children acquire also sought to explain how a child established knowledge about second language
requires and learns a language they raised acquisition and learning.
questions such as: How do external and internal
factors, such as social contest/situation, attitudes,
TYPE 2: KNOWLEDGE AS AUTHORITY. Certain investigates very used languages and determines
conclusions become acceptable since they come the degree of similarities in sentence formation
from a source whose views on a phenomenon in then he/she abstracts principles to describe the
his/her field of research are regarded H as rules in forming sentence for every language used.
educated judgment, thereby gaining popularity.
This theory generated by linguist A will be
Some methods that were accepted and became
tested by another linguist to find out the validity of
popular on the basis of authority were the silent
the principles abstracted by the linguist A.
Way, Suggestopedia, and Community Language
However, although linguist B replicates and applies
Learning.
the principles, he/she will further investigate other
TYPE 3: A PRIORI KNOWLEDGE. It resembles aspects of the theory developed by linguist A to
beliefs, but this type is usually based on previous test the internal consistency of the aspects under
systematic investigation, as in the theory of study. Finally, researcher C Consults linguist A's and
language acquisition that "to make input linguist B's theories and findings and draws insights
comprehensible to learners and to lead ultimately based on actual classroom application. In this
to successful Classroom acquisition" modified finding after which he/she draws insights on the
interaction is important (Doughty and Pica. 1986). strength and weakness of the principles founded by
In second language research, theories begin with a the previous. researchers.
priori Knowledge.
Above illustration shows the interaction of
TYPE 4: EMPIRICAL KNOWLEDGE: Knowledge is a the three kinds of research. Linguist A concerned
result of empirical study which goes through the with basic/theoretical research and is generating
process of observation and experiment (verifiable; theory. Linguist B focus on an independent theory
with evidence). The researcher interacts with the of relative clauses and applying. the linguist A
real world, observes the phenomenon, before the conclusions to a specific problem situation.
draw’s conclusions. theories are tested carefully Researcher C on the other hand, dealt with the
and proven by other researchers who are actually practical aspects of relative clauses for production
involved in language research by which they gather of instructional materials.
and validate data collected.
To sum up, the kinds of research may be
Thus, language research brings us in contact classified according to its purpose and the degree
with different sources of knowledge: belief, to which the finding may be utilized:
authority, a priori theories. and empirical evidence.
1. BASIC RESEARCH. also known as pure research is
KINDS OF RESEARCH directed towards the development of a scientific
knowledge rather than its practical research.
Seliger and Shohamy illustrates these three
researches are interrelated: A Linguist A view think 2. APPLIED RESEARCH Consider as action research
different languages start universal features and is directed towards practical application of the
he/she is interested in finding out in terms of rales scientific knowledge. It attempts to explain certain
necessary to form relative clause sentences. These problems brought about by certain phenomenon, it
languages have in common. Hence, he/she
may modify, improves an existing theory. or RESEARCH METHODOLOGY- is determined by
develop a new theory. researchers" philosophy, motivation for conducting
the research and conditions under which research
3. PRACTICAL RESEARCH - Actual classroom
is conducted. If a teacher believes that attitude
research is directed towards material development
very much influences acquisition of in foreign
gain from practical knowledge or experience.
language and want to find out of it affect his/her
PARADIGM OF LANGUAGE RESEARCH students learning of the language (motivations
required in their curriculum) Conditions. He/she
Nature of Language-Research Language research
might want to conduct a study in the student
just like other researches in other discipline is a
attitude towards the foreign language and its effect
complex process-Undertaking this type of research
on their learning of the language. A study like this
requires consideration of many factors such as:
will use tools such as survey questioner or
→language use, type of users acquisition, process,
interview.
setting, research methodology and related
research. RELATED DISCIPLINE: pertain to areas that
influence language study the educatrans,
• LANGUAGE USE- determines primarily whether
psychology, Sociology, anthropology, and others. A
the language is first, second, or foreign to the
language research acquisition may consider
speaker. Research on the acquisition of either one
pedagogy (education), Students motivation
of these three uses of language will greatly vary
(psychology), the role of language in society
from one another within each case. There are
(sociology) or the origin of the development of
many sub-functions of language. For instance, a
language (anthropology).
second language may be regarded as a medium of
personal enhancement, social prestige. FRAMEWORK OF LANGUAGE RESEARCH According
professional growth, or political or economic to Seliger and Shohamy (1984), research on
alliance. Each function can be a rich source of language must be defined by four parameters:
research. • approaches. objectives. research design and data
collection/Analysis. The first two are
TYPE OF USERS: Takes into account the age and
Conceptualized in the planning stage; the last two
characteristics of the learners. These are closely
are actualized of the operational stage.
tied up with the language acquisition process. It is a
common belief that the young learners acquire PARAMETER 1: Approaches
language faster than the adult. However, a strongly
Approaches refer to how one views the language
motivated learner can acquire language also fast.
research to be Conducted. It may be viewed in
LANGUAGE SETTING: Identifies the environment general or specific perspective
within which language is acquire A native speaker
• General view considers language as whole in
acquires it in natural environment at home, with
order to get a clearer picture of the relationship of
family members, with playmates. A second or
the parts. For instance, the researcher is interested
foreign language learner acquires it in the
in finding out the general difficulties of Chinese,
classroom under the supervision of a teacher.
students in learning the English language or an
aspect of the language, like its phonology. A of college students will comprise mainly of the
specific perspective considers one small part of the observed different language strategies they employ
language with a view fitting it into a coherent view in an English class. After identifying the data
of the whole problems In the study of the needed to pursue the study, the researcher
difficulties of Chinese students in learning the proceeds to identifying the methods of Collecting
phonology of English, the researcher may want to and analyzing these data. the tools commonly used
target only the vowel system, or the consonant in gathering language dada are tape, observation,
system of English. attitude questionnaire, and metalinguistic test Tape
and observation are used for behavior
PARAMETER 2: Objectives
documentation, attitude questionnaire for
objectives are Concerned with the purpose identifying beliefs and perceptions, and
of the research. It may aim to discover a certain metalinguistic test for language proficiency.
language phenomenon and postulate a theory
3 PREPARATORY STAGES OF RESEARCH:
about it afterwards or it may test an already
I. Selecting and focusing a research
existing theory, proving or disproving it later. the
problem
former hypothesis-generating; and the latter is
II. Deciding on the research design and
hypothesis-testing.
objectives
III. Reviewing Related Literature and
studies
PARAMETER 3 Research Design
I-SELECTING AND FOCUSING A RESEARCH
Research design establishes the method used in
PROBLEM
conducting the study. It deals with the handling of
factors such as scope variables form, and writer’s (a) Sources of a research problem A research topic
point of view. These, effect, are influenced by may be derived from these sources:
approaches and objectives. A study using general
1. Researchers experience and interest - a
approach aimed at generating hypothesis may deal
research problem may come from researcher's
with a broad scope, few variables, less attention to
personal experience with the study of language
form and an objective point of view. In contrast, if
which he/she finds interesting
the study's approach is specific, aimed at testing
hypothesis, it will deal with a limited scope, more 2.Other language research most studies
variables, more attention to form and subjective recommend a list of other research topics from this
point of view. list, a researcher may get ideas on interesting topics
to work on.
PARAMETER 4 Data Collection and Analysis Data
is language research may constitute observed 3. Researches on allied disciplines- language
behaviors, such as language performance, written studies are closely link with other disciplines.
or oral; information provided by subjects of the Reading researches in phycology, education,
study, such as attitude, beliefs, perceptions; sociology, anthropology can provide the researcher
rewards of language proficiency from tests, class a rich source of topics from which problem may be
ratings etc. A study on the language learning styles chosen.
(b)Focusing a research problem-After selecting a (a) Reasons for the review- Reviewing related
general tape the next task is to consider how to literature and studies are necessary for two
narrow down the tope into something that can be primary reasons:
done within the limits of the researcher's
1. To broaden the researcher’s perspective of the
environment such as time, resources. researcher's
research problem
expertise and other conditions under which the
study would be conducted. At this point, the 2. To help her give focus on the problem onto
researcher has to decide whether to work on workable research questions.
general or specific
(b) Sources of Related Literature and studies:
(c) Formulating the general and specific questions-
1. Libraries are the primary provider of information
Having decided to work on specific aspect of a
for the review; however, many libraries are
topic, the researcher now has to translate this
inadequate in providing the materials in the
choice into general and specific questions which
student's need. Institution which pays importance
will constitute the research
to research must equip their libraries substantial
II-DECIDING ON THE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY and updated materials. Otherwise, this will deter
instead of support of research.
Choosing the appropriate methodology and
procedure-Decisions on appropriate method of 2. Online-Today much information is provided by
research to be use depend on the research internet which has boosted research. the
approach and objectives used in studies. there are researcher must be judicious in selecting materials
many methodologies use in language research but because not all information posted online is
the common ones are descriptive and reliable.
experimental.
3. Professional organizations - Some valuable
Example of descriptive study is the oral materials on their Specific disciplines are kept by
proficiency of college students in certain university professional organizations. Attending their
correlated between grade in English and grades in conferences will provide access to these materials.
academic subjects. among high school students,
4. Foreign embassies- Some researches specially in
comparison of difficulties in learning English among
social sciences, will find valuable materials in
learners in the Philippines. Example of
embassies. A letter requesting to these materials
experimental study are the effectiveness of multi-
endorse by the student's adviser and dean can help
intelligence method in touching freshmen English
facilitates research in these libraries.
on college, validation of an instruction material for
English teaching online, Comparison of English
proficiencies regular and online students.

III. REVIEWING RELATED LITERATURE AND