ABSTRACT
Language policy is an area of multidisciplinary inquiry where different research concerns, methods and paradigms tend to converge. In this chapter, we provide an overview of research topics and methods for readers who are interested in conducting research on language policy. The chapter presents an overview of empirical studies in the field by highlighting research questions that have been or can be asked with regard to where (site/level), what (content/situation), when (history/timing), why (rationale/ideology/explanation), who (identity/agency/subjectivity) and how (effect/attitude/process/(re)action). It also gives concise explanations of key concepts in different paradigms and their epistemological foundations along the way. In light of the overview, we argue that one paradigm cannot be used to delegitimize another in research. It is necessary to synergize the use of various methods, frameworks and paradigms to advance understanding of critical issues in language policy research.
