Research Methods in AL

Boosting The Quality of Ethics In Applied Linguistics Ghanbar, H., Kim, N., Cinaglia, C., & De Costa, P. I. (2026). The principle-practice gap: A methodological synthesis of discrepancies between narrative inquiry ethical ideals and actual reporting practices. Language Teaching, 1-43.‏

Riazi, M., Ghanbar, H., & Rezvani, R. (2023). Qualitative data coding and analysis: A systematic review of the papers published in the Journal of Second Language Writing. Iranian Journal of Language Teaching Research, 11(1), 25-47.‏ https://ijltr.urmia.ac.ir/article_121271.html

The function of IMPA in SEM and validation

I love complexity and hidden agendas, so I believe in SEM studies researchers should not rely solely on direct effects. Here is my point on mediation analysis and indirect effects.

Dear colleagues, We are offering the second in our free professional development webinar series Advances in World Language Pedagogy. In the next webinar, Dr. Amanda Huensch (University of Pittsburgh) will be presenting on the topic of pronunciation instruction in second language classroom. See the session description below and on the attached flyer. The webinar will be held from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm (Eastern Standard Time) on Wednesday, February 25th via Zoom. Registration is free and is required to attend. Register Here On April 15th, we will be hosting a webinar on “Video-based resources for teaching storytelling as social practice in Japanese-as-a-foreign language” by Dr. Stephen Looney, Dr. Akiko Imamura, and Dr. Innhwa Park. Note: Dr. Poehner’s April 1st webinar on Dynamic Assessment has been rescheduled for the 2026-27 academic year. Please watch for this and many more exciting free webinars from the CLA starting this month. http://tinyurl.com/CALPERWebinarsSP26

Ever wondered why synthesis studies—like systematic reviews and meta-analyses—consistently garner more citations and carry more weight than individual empirical research?😊 While empirical studies are the essential building blocks of science, synthesis studies are the "architects" that make sense of the entire landscape. Here is why they are considered the gold standard in academia: 1. Statistical Power and Reliability: An empirical study looks at a specific snapshot. A synthesis study combines data from thousands of participants across various contexts, providing a much more robust and "universal" truth. 2. The Ultimate "Referee": Scientific findings are often contradictory. Synthesis studies act as the final judge, analyzing why different studies reached different conclusions and providing a definitive consensus that others can confidently cite. 3. Efficiency for Professionals: In an era of information overload, researchers and practitioners don't have the time to read hundreds of individual papers. They turn to synthesis studies as a "one-stop shop" for high-quality, pre-filtered information. 4. The Top of the Evidence Pyramid: In the hierarchy of evidence-based practice, systematic reviews and meta-analyses sit at the very peak. They represent the highest level of clinical and scientific certainty. 5. Mapping the Future: Beyond summarizing the past, these studies highlight what we *don't* yet know. By identifying "research gaps," they become the primary reference point for any new investigator looking to justify their next project. In short: If empirical studies are the bricks, synthesis studies are the finished cathedral. It is only natural that the world gazes more at the masterpiece than the individual stones.

Source: Ghanbar, H., & Kamali, J. (2026). Autoethnography in TESOL Teacher Education: A Methodological Synthesis. TESOL Quarterly.‏