Useful for undergraduate and graduate students and other researchers wanting to learn more about case study methods and their application to research on language learning.
This volume provides an overview of case study methodology and examples of published case studies in applied linguistics, without attempting to be a comprehensive survey of the innumerable case studies that exist. The case studies presented here involve teachers and learners of English and various other languages in North America and other parts of the world. Advice is also given about how to conduct and publish case studies.
"This book makes for truly engaging and interesting reading! It is packed with useful analyses, examples, and discussions of the methodologies and epistemologies surrounding case study research. The wealth of diverse illustrations from the SLA literature also makes it a very important resource for graduate students. I hope many applied linguistics programs take advantage of this excellent textbook and begin offering courses on case study methodology!" - Lourdes Ortega, University of Hawai'i
"The book can serve as an effective resource for qualitative research professors in their preparation of course modules as well as for graduate students and more experienced researchers in the field of applied linguistics...Duff has been able to both offer a balance of conceptual and practical guidance and skillfully engage with different levels of inquiry (epistemology, ontology and methodology) throughout the book." - Marzieh Tafaghodtari, University of Ottawa
"...this volume is a welcome addition to the AL research community, and both beginning and seasoned AL researchers will find it useful."
- Modern Language Journal, 2009
"...this thoroughly researched and excellently written volume has the potential to advance the field of Applied Linguistics."
- Johannes Eckerth, 2008
"Case studies are a widely-used research method in applied linguistics today, notably in the context of second language learning, teaching and use. For anyone not acquainted with this qualitative approach, Duff's book serves as an excellent introduction to its distinctive attributes, the associated theoretical issues and to the practicalities of conducting, evaluating and presenting case study research."
- Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, 2008
