Qualitative research in language teaching and learning journals, 1997-2006

In the light of widespread discussion of qualitative approaches to language teaching and learning research in recent years, this article reports on a survey of qualitative data-based articles published in 10 major journals between 1997 and 2006. The survey revealed that 477 qualitative articles (22% of the total number published) had appeared in the 10 journals over this period, that the year-by-year totals were relatively stable over the 10-year period of the survey, and that there was considerable variation among the journals. An analysis of the articles in terms of approaches to qualitative research showed that methodological eclecticism, rather than adherence to established traditions, is now the dominant characteristic of published qualitative work in our field.