Systematic Reviews and Meta Analysis
BibTex RIS Cite

The Postgraduate Theses in ELT between 2019 and 2021: A Methodological Comparison

Year 2023, Volume: 10 Issue: 2, 43 - 63, 30.03.2023

Muhammet Öcel Ayfer Su Bergil

https://doi.org/10.17275/per.23.28.10.2

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the scientific research in educational sciences as almost all aspects of life since it broke out in China in late 2019. Research in English Language Teaching (ELT) has run across several problems, much like other science domains. Researchers may have encountered difficulties while trying to reach volunteers in their studies due to psychological or physiological complications. On the other hand, distance, or flexible face-to-face education in all the educational cycles may have led some researchers to spend more time conducting their studies. Considering these possible effects of the pandemic, the main purpose of this study is to explore ELT researchers’ methodological tendencies in their master’s theses and doctoral dissertations published pre (2019) and while (2020, 2021) pandemic in Türkiye. The sample consisted of 806 master’s theses and 128 doctoral dissertations. By using a grid and checklist, data was collected qualitatively by implementing the qualitative document analysis method. The collected data was analyzed quantitatively by using descriptive statistics. Although the number of theses and dissertations decreased during the pandemic, the findings indicated that researchers conducted more in-depth analyses. The study has significance for further researchers in that the findings have shown that they may need to do their research planning in a more adaptable way and have alternative plans in case of similar unusual situations on a large or small scale, like the pandemic.

Keywords

Research methodology English language teaching in Turkey Theses in English language teaching The effects of Covid-19 Methodologic trends

Thanks

The master’s thesis that was successfully defended on June 15, 2022, at Amasya University Social Sciences Institute provided the data for this article. As a recent MA graduate, the first author contributed 60%, while the second author, as his supervisor, contributed 40% to the overall processes pertaining to the study. The authors made no mention of any potential conflicts of interest. The authors are very appreciative of each other's cooperation in this scholarly endeavor.

References

  • Alghamdi, A. K., Aldossary, A. T., & Deraney, P. (2021). Graduate students' perceptions of and recommendations pursuant to Saudi Arabia's COVID-19 "Stay-at-Home" initiative. Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences, 16(2), 687-702. https://doi.org/10.18844/cjes.v16i2.5644
  • Bourke, S., & Holbrook, A. P. (2013). Examining PhD and research masters theses. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 38(4), 407–416. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2011.638738
  • Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2), 27–40. https://doi.org/10.3316/QRJ0902027
  • Carter, N. B. (2012). Master's level research in second language teaching and learning (Canada, 2008-1010): paradigms, methods and analyses (Doctoral dissertation, Carleton University).
  • Cesur, K., Kök, M., & Aydın, Ç. (2018). Content analysis of abstracts on ELT research available in Turkish Journal Park Academic Platform. ELT Research Journal, 7(2), 58-77. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/eltrj/issue/41589/489221
  • Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
  • DeMatthews, D., Knight, D., Reyes, P., Benedict, A., Callahan, R. (2020). From the field: education research during a pandemic. Educational Researcher, 49(6), 398–402. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X20938761
  • Demir, Ç. (2018). Holistic analysis of postgraduate theses on foreign language teaching in Turkey with actor-technic perspective 1987-2017 (Publication No., 625941) [Doctoral dissertation]. YOK National Thesis Center.
  • Dörnyei, Z. (2007). Research methods in applied linguistics: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodologies (1st ed.). Oxford University Press.
  • Durak, G., Yünkül, E., Cankaya, S., Akpinar, S., Erten, E., Inam, N., Taylan, U., & Tastekin, E. (2016). Content analysis of master theses and dissertations based on action research. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 4(12), 71-80. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1118976.pdf
  • Erichsen, E. A., Bolliger, D. U., & Halupa, C. (2014). Student satisfaction with graduate supervision in doctoral programs primarily delivered in distance education settings. Studies in Higher education, 39(2), 321-338. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2012.709496
  • Etikan, I., Musa, S. A., & Alkassim, R. S. (2016). Comparison of convenience sampling and purposive sampling. American journal of theoretical and applied statistics, 5(1), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11
  • Fisher, M. J., & Marshall, A. P. (2009). Understanding descriptive statistics. Australian critical care, 22(2), 93-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aucc.2008.11.003
  • Fraenkel, J.R., Wallen N. E., & Hyun H. H. (2015). How to design and evaluate research in education (9th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill
  • Hultsch, D.F., MacDonald, S.W., Hunter, M.A., Maitland, S.B., & Dixon, R.A. (2002). Sampling and generalisability in developmental research: Comparison of random and convenience samples of older adults. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 26(4), 345–359. https://doi.org/10.1080%2F01650250143000247
  • Karadağ, E. (2011). Instruments Used in Doctoral Dissertations in Educational Sciences in Turkey: Quality of Research and Analytical Errors. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice. 11. 330-334. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/298205810
  • Kirmizi, O. (2012). Research Trends in M.A. ELT Programs in Turkey. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 4687- 4691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.319
  • Krippendorf, K. (2004). Content analysis: an introduction to its methodology (2nd ed.). Thomas Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Lambert, V. A., & Lambert, C. E. (2012). Qualitative descriptive research: An acceptable design. Pacific Rim International Journal of Nursing Research, 16(4), 255-256. https://doi.org/10.106/j.sbspro.203.01.066lamb
  • Özmen, K. S., Cephe, P. T., & Kınık, B. (2016). Trends in doctoral research on English language teaching in Turkey. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 16(5), 1737-1759. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1115055.pdf
  • Maravelakis, P. (2019), The use of statistics in social sciences. Journal of Humanities and Applied Social Sciences, Vol. 1 No. 2, pp. 87-97. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHASS-08-2019-0038
  • Mishra, S., Sahoo, S., & Pandey, S. (2021). Research trends in online distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Distance Education, 42(4), 494-519. https://doi.org/10.1080/01587919.2021.1986373
  • Pallant, J. (2016). SPSS survival manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS. Routledge.
  • Pelz, P. B. (2021). Research methods for the social sciences | Simple book production. Lumen Learning – Simple Book Production. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-research-methods/
  • Rosenbaum, L. (2020). The untold toll—the pandemic’s effects on patients without Covid-19. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(24), 2368-2371. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMms2009984
  • Sarah, K., Oceane, S., Emily, F., & Carole, F. (2021). Learning from lockdown: Assessing the positive and negative experiences, and coping strategies of researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 236, 105269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105255
  • Shaukat, K., Alam, T. M., Hameed, I. A., Luo, S., Li, J., Aujla, G. K., & Iqbal, F. (2020). A comprehensive dataset for bibliometric analysis of SARS and coronavirus impact on social sciences. Data in brief, 33, 106520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2020.106520
  • Sozbilir, M., Kutu, H., & Yasar, M. D. (2012). Science education research in Turkey: A content analysis of selected features of published papers. In Jorde D. & Dillon, Justin (Eds). In Science Education Research and Practice in Europe (pp. 341-374). Brill Sense. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6091-900-8_14
  • Şimşek, M. R., & Dündar, E. (2017). Investigating EFL coursebook research in Turkey: Trends in graduate theses of the 2001-2013 period. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 17(3), 969- 1014. http://www.estp.com.tr/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2017- 3-0090.pd
  • Şişman, P. E., Buyukkarci, K., & Özyurt, E. (2019). Research in ELT: Turkish context. 11th International Congress on Research in Education. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338364010
  • Tavsancil, E., Buyukturan, E. B., & Ozmen, D. T. (2012). The subject areas of post-graduate theses completed at educational sciences between 2000-2008. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 5756-5762. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.511
  • Taymaz, N. (2021). A corpus-based comparison of use of hedges and boosters by Turkish ELT MA and PhD students. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 17(Special Issue 1), 33-49. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1285159.pdf
  • Topal, M., İstanbullu, A., & Kucuk-Avcı, S. (2021). Covid-19 effects on distance education in higher education: A comparison with bibliometric analysis before Covid-19 pandemic and the Covid-19 pandemic periods. Journal of Educational Technology and Online Learning, ICETOL Special Issue, 864-879. https://doi.org/10.31681/jetol.1016705
  • White, M.D., & Marsh, E.E. (2006). Content analysis: A flexible methodology. Library Trends, 55(1), 22-45 https://doi.org/10.1353/lib.2006.0053
  • Wu, B., Paltridge, B. (2021). Stance expressions in academic writing: A corpus-based comparison of Chinese students’ MA dissertations and PhD theses. Lingua, 253, 103071. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lingua.2021.103071
  • Yağız, O., Aydın, B., & Akdemir, A.S. (2016). ELT research in Turkey: A content analysis of selected features of published articles. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 12(2), 117-134. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1117966.pdf
  • Yavuz, M., Kayalı, B., & Tutal, Ö. (2021). Trend of distance education research in the covid-19 period: A bibliometric and content analysis. Journal of Educational Technology and Online Learning, 4(2), 256-279 . https://doi.org/10.31681/jetol.922682
  • Yılmaz, Ş., Aydin, F., & Bahar, M. (2015). Insvestigating the general trends in master's theses and doctoral dissertations published on environmental education between 1992-2011. [1992-2011 yılları arasında çevre eğitimi ile ilgili yayımlanan yüksek lisans ve doktora tezlerindeki genel yönelimlerin belirlenmesi.] Adıyaman University Journal of School of Social Sciences [Adıyaman Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi.] 2015. 383. https://doi.org/10.14520/adyusbd.33216.
  • Yorulmaz, M., & Aydoğdu, A. (2021). The effect of Covid-19 pandemic on higher education: A ibliometric tudy on published theses. Journal of Basic and Clinical Health, 438, 204-1006. https://doi.org/10.30621/jbachs.902996
  • Zhao, K. (2020). Sample representation in the social sciences. Synthese, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-020-02621-3
  • Zahneis, M., & June, A. W. (2020). How has the pandemic affected graduate students? This study has answers. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 67(2). https://websupport.montana.edu/covid19_rapid

Year 2023, Volume: 10 Issue: 2, 43 - 63, 30.03.2023

Muhammet Öcel Ayfer Su Bergil

https://doi.org/10.17275/per.23.28.10.2

Abstract

References

  • Alghamdi, A. K., Aldossary, A. T., & Deraney, P. (2021). Graduate students' perceptions of and recommendations pursuant to Saudi Arabia's COVID-19 "Stay-at-Home" initiative. Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences, 16(2), 687-702. https://doi.org/10.18844/cjes.v16i2.5644
  • Bourke, S., & Holbrook, A. P. (2013). Examining PhD and research masters theses. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 38(4), 407–416. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2011.638738
  • Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2), 27–40. https://doi.org/10.3316/QRJ0902027
  • Carter, N. B. (2012). Master's level research in second language teaching and learning (Canada, 2008-1010): paradigms, methods and analyses (Doctoral dissertation, Carleton University).
  • Cesur, K., Kök, M., & Aydın, Ç. (2018). Content analysis of abstracts on ELT research available in Turkish Journal Park Academic Platform. ELT Research Journal, 7(2), 58-77. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/eltrj/issue/41589/489221
  • Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
  • DeMatthews, D., Knight, D., Reyes, P., Benedict, A., Callahan, R. (2020). From the field: education research during a pandemic. Educational Researcher, 49(6), 398–402. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X20938761
  • Demir, Ç. (2018). Holistic analysis of postgraduate theses on foreign language teaching in Turkey with actor-technic perspective 1987-2017 (Publication No., 625941) [Doctoral dissertation]. YOK National Thesis Center.
  • Dörnyei, Z. (2007). Research methods in applied linguistics: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodologies (1st ed.). Oxford University Press.
  • Durak, G., Yünkül, E., Cankaya, S., Akpinar, S., Erten, E., Inam, N., Taylan, U., & Tastekin, E. (2016). Content analysis of master theses and dissertations based on action research. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 4(12), 71-80. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1118976.pdf
  • Erichsen, E. A., Bolliger, D. U., & Halupa, C. (2014). Student satisfaction with graduate supervision in doctoral programs primarily delivered in distance education settings. Studies in Higher education, 39(2), 321-338. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2012.709496
  • Etikan, I., Musa, S. A., & Alkassim, R. S. (2016). Comparison of convenience sampling and purposive sampling. American journal of theoretical and applied statistics, 5(1), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11
  • Fisher, M. J., & Marshall, A. P. (2009). Understanding descriptive statistics. Australian critical care, 22(2), 93-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aucc.2008.11.003
  • Fraenkel, J.R., Wallen N. E., & Hyun H. H. (2015). How to design and evaluate research in education (9th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill
  • Hultsch, D.F., MacDonald, S.W., Hunter, M.A., Maitland, S.B., & Dixon, R.A. (2002). Sampling and generalisability in developmental research: Comparison of random and convenience samples of older adults. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 26(4), 345–359. https://doi.org/10.1080%2F01650250143000247
  • Karadağ, E. (2011). Instruments Used in Doctoral Dissertations in Educational Sciences in Turkey: Quality of Research and Analytical Errors. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice. 11. 330-334. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/298205810
  • Kirmizi, O. (2012). Research Trends in M.A. ELT Programs in Turkey. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 4687- 4691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.319
  • Krippendorf, K. (2004). Content analysis: an introduction to its methodology (2nd ed.). Thomas Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Lambert, V. A., & Lambert, C. E. (2012). Qualitative descriptive research: An acceptable design. Pacific Rim International Journal of Nursing Research, 16(4), 255-256. https://doi.org/10.106/j.sbspro.203.01.066lamb
  • Özmen, K. S., Cephe, P. T., & Kınık, B. (2016). Trends in doctoral research on English language teaching in Turkey. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 16(5), 1737-1759. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1115055.pdf
  • Maravelakis, P. (2019), The use of statistics in social sciences. Journal of Humanities and Applied Social Sciences, Vol. 1 No. 2, pp. 87-97. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHASS-08-2019-0038
  • Mishra, S., Sahoo, S., & Pandey, S. (2021). Research trends in online distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Distance Education, 42(4), 494-519. https://doi.org/10.1080/01587919.2021.1986373
  • Pallant, J. (2016). SPSS survival manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS. Routledge.
  • Pelz, P. B. (2021). Research methods for the social sciences | Simple book production. Lumen Learning – Simple Book Production. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-research-methods/
  • Rosenbaum, L. (2020). The untold toll—the pandemic’s effects on patients without Covid-19. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(24), 2368-2371. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMms2009984
  • Sarah, K., Oceane, S., Emily, F., & Carole, F. (2021). Learning from lockdown: Assessing the positive and negative experiences, and coping strategies of researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 236, 105269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105255
  • Shaukat, K., Alam, T. M., Hameed, I. A., Luo, S., Li, J., Aujla, G. K., & Iqbal, F. (2020). A comprehensive dataset for bibliometric analysis of SARS and coronavirus impact on social sciences. Data in brief, 33, 106520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2020.106520
  • Sozbilir, M., Kutu, H., & Yasar, M. D. (2012). Science education research in Turkey: A content analysis of selected features of published papers. In Jorde D. & Dillon, Justin (Eds). In Science Education Research and Practice in Europe (pp. 341-374). Brill Sense. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6091-900-8_14
  • Şimşek, M. R., & Dündar, E. (2017). Investigating EFL coursebook research in Turkey: Trends in graduate theses of the 2001-2013 period. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 17(3), 969- 1014. http://www.estp.com.tr/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2017- 3-0090.pd
  • Şişman, P. E., Buyukkarci, K., & Özyurt, E. (2019). Research in ELT: Turkish context. 11th International Congress on Research in Education. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338364010
  • Tavsancil, E., Buyukturan, E. B., & Ozmen, D. T. (2012). The subject areas of post-graduate theses completed at educational sciences between 2000-2008. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 5756-5762. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.511
  • Taymaz, N. (2021). A corpus-based comparison of use of hedges and boosters by Turkish ELT MA and PhD students. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 17(Special Issue 1), 33-49. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1285159.pdf
  • Topal, M., İstanbullu, A., & Kucuk-Avcı, S. (2021). Covid-19 effects on distance education in higher education: A comparison with bibliometric analysis before Covid-19 pandemic and the Covid-19 pandemic periods. Journal of Educational Technology and Online Learning, ICETOL Special Issue, 864-879. https://doi.org/10.31681/jetol.1016705
  • White, M.D., & Marsh, E.E. (2006). Content analysis: A flexible methodology. Library Trends, 55(1), 22-45 https://doi.org/10.1353/lib.2006.0053
  • Wu, B., Paltridge, B. (2021). Stance expressions in academic writing: A corpus-based comparison of Chinese students’ MA dissertations and PhD theses. Lingua, 253, 103071. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lingua.2021.103071
  • Yağız, O., Aydın, B., & Akdemir, A.S. (2016). ELT research in Turkey: A content analysis of selected features of published articles. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 12(2), 117-134. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1117966.pdf
  • Yavuz, M., Kayalı, B., & Tutal, Ö. (2021). Trend of distance education research in the covid-19 period: A bibliometric and content analysis. Journal of Educational Technology and Online Learning, 4(2), 256-279 . https://doi.org/10.31681/jetol.922682
  • Yılmaz, Ş., Aydin, F., & Bahar, M. (2015). Insvestigating the general trends in master's theses and doctoral dissertations published on environmental education between 1992-2011. [1992-2011 yılları arasında çevre eğitimi ile ilgili yayımlanan yüksek lisans ve doktora tezlerindeki genel yönelimlerin belirlenmesi.] Adıyaman University Journal of School of Social Sciences [Adıyaman Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi.] 2015. 383. https://doi.org/10.14520/adyusbd.33216.
  • Yorulmaz, M., & Aydoğdu, A. (2021). The effect of Covid-19 pandemic on higher education: A ibliometric tudy on published theses. Journal of Basic and Clinical Health, 438, 204-1006. https://doi.org/10.30621/jbachs.902996
  • Zhao, K. (2020). Sample representation in the social sciences. Synthese, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-020-02621-3
  • Zahneis, M., & June, A. W. (2020). How has the pandemic affected graduate students? This study has answers. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 67(2). https://websupport.montana.edu/covid19_rapid
There are 41 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Other Fields of Education
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Muhammet Öcel 0000-0002-3552-2517

Ayfer Su Bergil 0000-0002-9277-2862

Publication Date March 30, 2023
Acceptance Date January 13, 2023
Published in Issue Year 2023 Volume: 10 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Öcel, M., & Su Bergil, A. (2023). The Postgraduate Theses in ELT between 2019 and 2021: A Methodological Comparison. Participatory Educational Research, 10(2), 43-63. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.23.28.10.2
 Download Cover Image

27707 15007  14998  150021500015005 1516417153

150621500415006   Creative Commons Lisansı  Creative Commons Atıf 4.0 International Lisance