ABSTRACT
Chapter 4: Researching English in the Disciplines. In this chapter, the methodological approach taken in order to evaluate pedagogical strategies is presented. The chapter summarizes prevailing approaches to research in ESP contexts and argues for the relevance and appropriateness of a mixed-methods case study approach. There has been a recent trend towards ethnographic investigations of ESP sites and these ethnographic techniques allow for a nuanced understanding of learners’ needs. At the same time, the use of quantitative data allows the researcher to capture breadth as well as depth of inquiry. The chapter describes the various epistemological assumptions, approaches to research adopted, research techniques and data sources used for the mixed-methods case study research.
