Welcome to the sixth volume of the Annual Review of Education, Communication and Language Science.
With this volume we have so far published the work of 71 research students within the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences.
The research papers cover both qualitative and quantitative approaches to research. Approaches employed include quantitative collocation analysis (Kuo), case study (Wong), curriculum mapping (Delgaty), Conversation Analysis (Waer).
Data gathering instruments included observation, interviews and reflective journals (Wong), writing samples (Kuo). Some studies focussed on specific countries, namely Thailand (Laopongharn & Sercombe), Taiwan (Kuo), USA (Wong), UK (Delgaty, Beach). Other papers provide international perspectives (Bidlake, Chukwu-Etu).
Themes covered include cross-cultural/intercultural communication (Laopongharn & Sercombe); counselling (Beach); underachieving learners (Chukwu-Etu); language learning software (Bidlake); parent-child interaction (Awde); curriculum mapping (Delgaty); authenticity in task-based interaction (Waer); native-speaker L2 teachers (Wong); collocation (Kuo).
The volume also covers different disciplines within the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences.
There are papers which look at language learning and teaching issues, those which investigate education and counselling, clinical education and those in the field of culture and cross-cultural communication.
There are research articles (4 papers) and literature review articles (4 papers) and one technology review. This volume also features abstracts of successful doctoral theses in the School.
The 9 abstracts included demonstrate the wide range of doctoral study undertaken in the School. In all of the research studies, the links between theory and practice are made explicit. The literature reviews provide useful discussions of the most recent works in specific fields.
In most cases, these articles provide snapshots of research in progress, which will result in theses in these areas.
This volume also features an article co-written by a doctoral student and member of staff (Laopongharn & Sercombe). The Editors would like to thank the Student Editors and student members of the Editorial Board for their hard work in preparing volume 6 of this journal.
Paul Seedhouse 27.11.09
