Key Issues for English Teachers to Conduct a Good Literature Review--Book Report on Quantitative Research Methods and Data Analysis in Foreign Language Teaching

Guo Zhongmin(Jiayuguan No.1 Middle School)

Abstract

For middle school teachers like me, writing papers and conducting research projects seem more difficult than climbing Mount Everest. After overcoming numerous obstacles to complete my on-the-job master's thesis and successfully passing the defense, I arrogantly thought, "I've learned to write papers and do research projects." However, after the degree certificate lay quietly on my desk for a few days, accompanying my short-lived joy, my mood could not remain calm. A faint sense of loss replaced the temporary happiness.

During the winter vacation of 2015, I was lucky to get information about the reading plan of Vocabulary Research promoted by iResearch in my WeChat circle. Overjoyed, I immediately contacted the WeChat official account and finally got the opportunity to participate in the first reading activity led by university experts and professors in my 25-year teaching career. Although my name never appeared as the author of the excellent assignments displayed and evaluated each time, I never gave up. By reading the excellent works of other students, I found my own gaps. To be honest, how can an ordinary middle school teacher compare with university teachers? The key is to challenge oneself. Sometimes, when I shared and discussed with other students in the reading group, I felt as if I had become a "university teacher" myself.

The in-depth reading of Vocabulary Research ended soon, but my enthusiasm persisted. The reading activity of Quantitative Research Methods and Data Analysis in Foreign Language Teaching rekindled my desire to read. I bought the required book online immediately. Before that, I already had 6 books on educational research methods on my desk, including Professor Qin Xiaoqing's Questionnaire Survey Methods in Foreign Language Teaching. As soon as I got Quantitative Research Methods and Data Analysis in Foreign Language Teaching, I couldn't wait to flip through the first two chapters. What caught my eye most was Chapter 2, which introduced the basic steps, retrieval methods, literature sources, content, and common models of literature review. The theoretical and empirical perspectives of literature retrieval, as well as the evaluation of literature and the 5 common models of literature review, were truly refreshing. Comparing with other books I had, only the literature review part in Quantitative Research Methods and Data Analysis in Foreign Language Teaching was really "practical and valuable content".

Keywords

Literature Review, Foreign Language Teaching, Research Methods, English Teachers, Quantitative Research

References

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12345/jetm.v10i1.36561