Reframing subjectivity and construct elicitation: Applying the repertory grid technique in applied linguistics research

Abstract

As applied linguistics turns increasingly towards subjectivity and individualized meaning-making, there is a pressing need for research methods that can systematically access tacit beliefs while preserving analytic transparency. This article introduces and advocates for the Repertory Grid Technique (RGT), grounded in Personal Construct Theory, as a flexible and rigorous tool for qualitative and mixed-methods inquiry. Rather than testing hypotheses, the article offers a methodologically driven illustration of RGT’s application in applied linguistics. Through a structured workflow–construct elicitation via triadic comparison, matrix rating, visual modeling, and post-grid reflection–the technique reveals participants’ personal constructs in their own views and supports both within-case and cross-case analysis. An illustrative study with three Thai EFL teachers shows how RGT captures complex, sometimes contradictory, conceptualizations of teacher roles and agency. The article provides step-by-step guidance, analytic demonstrations, and reflections on ethical, cognitive, and design challenges. RGT emerges not only as a methodological option but as a conceptual lens through which subjectivity can be explored systematically. Its capacity to generate participant-centered data, support visual and statistical analysis, and foster reflective engagement makes it a valuable addition to the applied linguistics methodological repertoire.