A Review of Research Methods in EFL Education

Abstract

Ontological assumptions are dichotomous as realism and nominalism, which gives rise to dichotomous epistemological assumptions as positivism and interpretivism (or anti-positivism). This gives rise to methodological paradigms as quantitative and qualitative. As a blended paradigm of quantitative and qualitative, mixed methods rise as a third option. Each paradigm has its own characteristic research methods and strategies for data collection and analysis. The article elaborates these three research paradigms and relevant research methods in the field of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Specific examples are given when each research method is illustrated.