Quantitative Methodology

Abstract

This chapter explores the methodological choices made in an illustrative complex and longitudinal study of classroom interest in a language task. They walk the reader through choices that must be made in a quantitative analysis step by step while also advocating for best practices in quantitative research, such as using technology as a partner in research methodology, strengthening statistical power by repeated testing of the same participants, and strengthening validity of study results by using a longitudinal design. The chapter’s aim is not to provide a comprehensive treatment of all possible methodological choices the reader may make, but to instead make vivid for the reader how such choices are made by teacher practitioners conducting actual research projects.