Article published In: Research methods and approaches in Applied Linguistics: Looking back and moving forward
Edited by Rosa M. Manchón
[AILA Review 27] 2014
► pp. 56–79
Methodology in Bi- and Multilingual Studies
From simplification to complexity
Available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC) 4.0 license.
For any use beyond this license, please contact the publisher at rights@benjamins.nl.
Published online: 22 May 2015
https://doi.org/10.1075/aila.27.03aro
https://doi.org/10.1075/aila.27.03aro
Research methodology is determined by theoretical approaches. This article discusses methods of multilingualism research in
connection with theoretical developments in linguistics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, and education. Taking a brief glance
at the past, the article starts with a discussion of an issue underlying the choice of research methodology: the distinction
between bilingualism and multilingualism. This is followed by an account of the way in which traditional methods of research
diverge and have expanded to include additional methodologies, which are shown to accommodate new theories and the most recent
data in the field. Special attention is paid to the emerging research directions employing methods of
conceptualization. Overall, the paper presents a review of the current state-of- the- art including an
account of the latest trends in research methodology on bilingualism and multilingualism, as well as a looking-forward analysis of
the challenges and potential future methodological developments in the field.
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