Chapter 1. Research methods in study abroad

Abstract

The chapter summarizes the evolution of SA research from the 90s to the present, a field that has become an established area of inquiry with theoretical impact and methodological sophistication. SA research has incorporated the different approaches and methodological changes that have characterized second language acquisition (SLA) scholarship, including technological advances and new designs and approaches to research. This trajectory suggests it is now a good time to stop and reflect upon the methodological developments that have taken place in our field, to identify strengths and weaknesses, and to look ahead and point towards new directions. The first section of the chapter presents a bird’s eye view of study abroad (SA) research, while the second summarizes results from published meta-analyses on methodology implemented in empirical studies on personal and language development in immersive contexts abroad. Based on the information presented throughout the volume, the chapter then moves to present a critical summary of the limitations identified in past research as well as proposals for future SA studies.