Trends in Qualitative Research in Language Teaching and Learning Journals, 2015–2024

抄録

In the field of language teaching and learning, the importance of qualitative research has been increasingly recognized, making it more common than in the past. Qualitative research enables a deeper understanding of people’s experiences and perspectives. Several review studies have examined trends in research methods. For instance, Tojo and Takagi (2017) analyzed 781 articles published in TESOL Quarterly, The Modern Language Journal, and Applied Linguistics from 2006 to 2015, identifying 226 as qualitative research. Building on Tojo and Takagi (2017), this study analyzed 1,168 articles published in the same three journals from 2015 to 2024. The results indicate that 424 out of 1,168 articles were categorized as qualitative research. Notably, TESOL Quarterly had the highest proportion, with 201 out of 353 articles classified as qualitative research, significantly more than the other journals. The findings suggest that qualitative research methodologies have become more diverse. Consequently, researchers need to carefully select appropriate methods based on their study objectives.