Common Mistakes in Foreign Language Research

Common Mistakes in Foreign Language Research offers a practical guide to the methodological, ethical, and interpretive problems that can weaken research in foreign language education. Rather than providing another general introduction to research methods, the book focuses on what can go wrong during the research process, why these mistakes matter, and how to recognize and address them.Using clear examples from foreign language learning and teaching, the book examines recurring problems in formulating research questions, reviewing the literature, planning studies, selecting qualitative, descriptive, correlational, multivariate, and experimental designs, collecting data, analyzing qualitative and quantitative evidence, writing research reports, using technology, and working with artificial intelligence.The book emphasizes the importance of alignment among research questions, design, evidence, analysis, and claims. It also highlights the need for methodological transparency, appropriate interpretation, ethical awareness, and careful use of digital tools and AI.Written in an accessible and practical style, Common Mistakes in Foreign Language Research is intended for graduate students, early-career researchers, experienced academics, and anyone involved in conducting, supervising, reviewing, or evaluating research in foreign language education.