Cover not available

In:Methods in Study Abroad Research: Past, present, and future
Edited by Carmen Pérez-Vidal and Cristina Sanz
[Research Methods in Applied Linguistics 4] 2023
► pp. 85–106

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload Book PDF
EPUB logo with download linkDownload Book EPUB
authorization required

Chapter 4
Mixed methods research on language learning in study abroad

 | Penn State University
 | Penn State University
Published online: 3 February 2023
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/rmal.4.04kin
Abstract
Although research involving the theorized, principled, systematic integration of quantitative and qualitative approaches – mixed methods – is relatively rare in the literature on study abroad, there have been seminal, interesting, and impactful multiple methods contributions to this literature. This chapter first explores extant research on language learning in study abroad that involves both quantitative and qualitative data. The chapter will then present the key feature of mixed methods research: the principled integration of quantitative and qualitative data and analysis. Worked examples of these moments of integration – termed ‘points of interface’ – are drawn from our own current research and a published study. The chapter closes with reflection on how mixed methods might strengthen and extend the empirical case for study abroad.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Contributions of multiple methods study abroad research
    • The “Predictors” study and its qualitative companion projects
    • Introducing the role of social networks
    • The uniqueness of individual experiences abroad
    • Grammatical accuracy
    • Pragmatics
  • Mixed methods designs for research on study abroad
    • Design basics: The conceptual toolkit
    • Advanced designs: Study abroad as a mixed methods intervention
  • Integrating methods at points of interface in study abroad research
    • Sampling point of interface: Selecting 50 from 2,741 (Careers Project)
    • Data collection points of interface: Participant progress over time (LANGSNAP)
    • Conclusion: Outcomes, ethics, and processes
  • References
References (52)
References
Bazeley, P. (2012). Integrative analysis strategies for mixed data sources. American Behavioral Scientist, 56 (6), 814–828. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2018). Integrating analyses in mixed methods research. Sage. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Block, D. (2003). The social turn in second language acquisition. Georgetown University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Brecht, R., Davidson, D., & Ginsberg, R. B. (1995). Predictors of foreign language gain during study abroad. In B. F. Freed (Ed.), Second language acquisition in a study abroad context (pp. 37–66). John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Brecht, R., & Robinson, J. (1995). On the value of formal instruction in study abroad: Student reactions in context. In B. F. Freed (Ed.), Second language acquisition in a study abroad context (pp. 317–334). John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Brown, L. (2013). Identity and honorifics use in Korean study abroad. In C. Kinginger (Ed.), Social and cultural aspects of language learning in study abroad (pp. 268–298). John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bryman, A. (2007). Barriers to integrating quantitative and qualitative research. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 1(1), 8–22. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Creswell, J. W. (2015). A concise introduction to mixed methods research. Sage.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2010). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (2nd ed.). Sage.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Creswell, J. W., Plano Clark, V. L., & Garrett, A. L. (2008). Methodological issues in conducting mixed methods research designs. In M. M. Bergman (Ed.), Advances in mixed methods research (pp. 66–83). Sage. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
DeKeyser, R. M. (2010). Monitoring processes in Spanish as a second language during a study abroad program. Foreign Language Annals, 43, 80–92. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Dewey, D., Belnap, R., & Hillstrom, R. (2013). Social network development, language use, and language acquisition during study abroad: Arabic language learners’ perspectives. Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, 21, 84–110. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Fetters, M., Curry, L. & Creswell, J. (2013). Achieving integration in mixed methods designs – Principles and practices. Health Services Research, 48 (6 Pt 2), 2134–2156. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gautier, R., & Chevrot, J. (2015). Social networks and acquisition of sociolinguistic variation in a study abroad context: A preliminary study. In R. Mitchell, N. Tracy-Ventura, & K. McManus (Eds.), Social interaction, identity and language learning during residence abroad (Eurosla Monograph Series 4) (pp. 169–184). Eurosla.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Goleman, D. (1999). Working with emotional intelligence. Bloomsbury.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Greenacre, M. (1994). Multiple and joint correspondence analysis. In M. Greenacre & J. Blasius (Eds.), Correspondence analysis in the social sciences (pp. 141–161). Academic Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2007). Correspondence analysis in practice (2nd ed.). Chapman & Hall/CRC. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Guest, G. (2013). Describing mixed methods research: An alternative to typologies. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 7(2), 141–151. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Guetterman, T. C., Fetters, M. D., & Creswell, J. W. (2015). Integrating quantitative and qualitative results in health science mixed methods research through joint displays. Annals of Family Medicine, 13(6), 554–561. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hashemi, M. R., & Babaii, E. (2013). Mixed methods research: Toward new research designs in applied linguistics. Modern Language Journal, 97(4), 828–852. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Isabelli-García, C. (2006). Study abroad social networks, motivation, and attitudes: Implications for second language acquisition. In M. A. DuFon & E. E. Churchill (Eds.), Language learners in study abroad contexts (pp. 231–258). Multilingual Matters. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Isabelli-García, C., Brown, J., Plews, J., & Dewey, C. (2018). Language learning and study abroad. Language Teaching, 51(4), 439–484. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
King, K., & Mackey, A. (2016). Research methodology in second language studies: Trends, concerns, and new directions. Modern Language Journal, 100(S1), 209–227. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kinginger, C. (2009). Language learning and study abroad: A critical reading of research. Palgrave Macmillan. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2008). Language learning in study abroad: Case studies of Americans in France. Modern Language Journal, 92, 1–124. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kinginger, C. & Zhuang, J. (Forthcoming). The professional lives of language study abroad alumni: A mixed-methods investigation. Bristol, UK: Multilingual Matters.
Klapper, J., & Rees, J. (2012). University residence abroad for foreign language students: Analysing the linguistic benefits. Language Learning Journal, 40(3), 335–358. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lantolf, J., & Pavlenko, A. (2001). (S)econd (L)anguage (A)ctivity theory: Understanding learners as people. In M. Breen (Ed.), Learner contributions to language learning: New directions in research (pp. 141–158). Longman.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Le Roux, B., & Rouanet, H. (2004). Geometric data analysis: From correspondence analysis to structured data analysis. Kluwer. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mackey, A., & Bryfonski, L. (2018). Mixed methodology. In A. Phakiti, P. De Costa, L. Plonsky, & S. Starfield (Eds.), The Palgrave handbook of applied linguistics research methodology (pp. 103–121). Palgrave Macmillan. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Marijuan, S., & Sanz, C. (2018). Expanding boundaries: Current and new directions in study abroad research and practice. Foreign Language Annals, 51, 185–204. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Meara, P., & Milton, J. (2005). X-Lex: The Swansea levels test. Express.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Miller, L., & Ginsburg, R. (1995). Folklinguistic theories of language learning. In B. F. Freed (Ed.), Second language acquisition in a study abroad context (pp. 293–315). John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mitchell, R., Tracy-Ventura, N., & McManus, K. (2017). Anglophone students abroad: Identity, social relationships and language learning (1st ed.). Routledge. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Morse, J. M., & Niehaus, L. (2009). Mixed methods design: principles and procedures. Left Coast Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ortega, L., Iwashita, N., Norris, J., & Rabie, S. (2002). An investigation of elicited imitation tasks in crosslinguistic SLA research. [Conference presentation]. Second Language Research Forum, Toronto, Canada.
O’Cathain, A., Murphy, E., & Nicholl. (2010). Three techniques for integrating data in mixed methods studies. British Medical Journal, 341, c4587. Retrieved from [URL].
Pearce, L. D. (2015). Thinking outside the Q boxes: Further motivating a mixed research perspective. In S. Hesse-Biber & R. Burke Johnson (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of multimethod and mixed methods research inquiry (pp. 42–56). Oxford University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Polanyi, L. (1995). Language learning and living abroad: Stories from the field. In B. F. Freed (Ed.), Second language acquisition in a study abroad context (pp. 271–291). John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Purhonen, S., & Wright, D. (2013). Methodological issues in national-comparative research on cultural tastes: The case of cultural capital in the UK and Finland. Cultural Sociology, 7(2), 257–273. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Riazi, A. (2017). Mixed methods research in language teaching and learning. Sheffield, UK: Equinox Publishing.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Riazi, A., & C. Candlin. (2014). Mixed methods research in language teaching and learning: Opportunities, issues and challenges. Language Teaching, 47(2), 135–173. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Rouanet, H. (2006). The geometric analysis of structured individuals x variables tables. In M. J. Greenacre & J. Blasius (Eds.), Multiple correspondence analysis and related methods (pp. 137–159). Chapman and Hall. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Rouanet, H., Ackermann, W., & Leroux, B. (2000). The geometric analysis of questionnaires: The lesson of Bourdieu’s La Distinction. Bulletin de Methodologique Sociologique, 65, 5–18. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Schmidt, R. (1990). The role of consciousness in second language learning. Applied Linguistics, 11, 129–158. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Schmidt, R., & Frota, S. (1986). Developing basic conversational ability in a second language: A case study of an adult learner of Portuguese. In R. Day (Ed.), Talking to learn (pp. 237–326). Newbury House.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Schrauf, R. W. (2013). Using correspondence analysis to model immigrant multilingualism over time. In J. Duarte & I. Gogolin (Eds.), Linguistic super-diversity in urban areas: Research approaches (pp. 27–43). John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2018). Mixed methods designs for making cross-cultural comparisons. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 12(4), 477–494. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Teddlie, C., & Tashakkori, A. (2009). Foundations of mixed methods research: Integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches in the social and behavioral sciences. Sage.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tracy-Ventura, N., McManus, K., Norris, J., & Ortega, L. (2014). “Repeat as much as you can”: Elicited imitation as a measure of oral proficiency in L2 French. In P. Leclercq, A. Edmonds, & H. Hilton (Eds.), Measuring L2 proficiency: Perspectives from SLA (pp. 143–166). Multilingual Matters. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Uprichard, E., & Dawney, L. (2019). Data diffraction. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 13(1), 19–32. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cited by (1)

Cited by one other publication

Fernández, Julieta & Rachel Shively
2025. Methodologies in Spanish-language study abroad research. Journal of Spanish Language Teaching 12:2 ► pp. 123 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 30 november 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue