Fahimeh Marefat , Mohammad Hassanzadeh , Sina Noureddini , Mostafa Ranjbar
{"title":"Reporting practices in applied linguistics quantitative research articles across a decade: A methodological synthesis","authors":"Fahimeh Marefat , Mohammad Hassanzadeh , Sina Noureddini , Mostafa Ranjbar","doi":"10.1016/j.system.2025.103627","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The standards for quantitative second language (L2) research paradigm are becoming increasingly stringent. Meanwhile, the purpose of methodological synthesis is to describe, examine, and appraise field-wide practices to augment the quality of future research. The current study strove to follow this line of inquiry by examining study quality and reporting practices in 382 experimental research articles (RAs) from seven international journals with an eye to any evolving pattern over time. In so doing, an integrated-moderated coding scheme was created. Then, the frequency counts and all related practices for the period between 2011 and 2021 were documented. The overall analysis revealed substantial adherence to methodological quality standards, including the reporting of sample size, pretesting, as well as descriptive and inferential statistics. Nevertheless, issues such as inadequate integration of probability sampling, delayed posttesting, advanced statistical techniques, and data-accountable graphs were evident as well, albeit slightly improving over time. Findings are expected to enhance the methodological awareness of L2 researchers as well as those who aspire to adopt a holistic and collaborative approach to methodological syntheses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48185,"journal":{"name":"System","volume":"131 ","pages":"Article 103627"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"System","FirstCategoryId":"98","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0346251X25000375","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The standards for quantitative second language (L2) research paradigm are becoming increasingly stringent. Meanwhile, the purpose of methodological synthesis is to describe, examine, and appraise field-wide practices to augment the quality of future research. The current study strove to follow this line of inquiry by examining study quality and reporting practices in 382 experimental research articles (RAs) from seven international journals with an eye to any evolving pattern over time. In so doing, an integrated-moderated coding scheme was created. Then, the frequency counts and all related practices for the period between 2011 and 2021 were documented. The overall analysis revealed substantial adherence to methodological quality standards, including the reporting of sample size, pretesting, as well as descriptive and inferential statistics. Nevertheless, issues such as inadequate integration of probability sampling, delayed posttesting, advanced statistical techniques, and data-accountable graphs were evident as well, albeit slightly improving over time. Findings are expected to enhance the methodological awareness of L2 researchers as well as those who aspire to adopt a holistic and collaborative approach to methodological syntheses.
期刊介绍:
This international journal is devoted to the applications of educational technology and applied linguistics to problems of foreign language teaching and learning. Attention is paid to all languages and to problems associated with the study and teaching of English as a second or foreign language. The journal serves as a vehicle of expression for colleagues in developing countries. System prefers its contributors to provide articles which have a sound theoretical base with a visible practical application which can be generalized. The review section may take up works of a more theoretical nature to broaden the background.