ABSTRACT
Data collection in second language research is multidimensional. In this chapter, we provide details about many of the measures that second language researchers commonly use to collect data. We have divided the chapter into sections according to research area, providing a sample of methods used in each area. However, this does not imply that methods used commonly in one area are not also used in other areas. For a more complete discussion of elicitation methods, our book focused exclusively on this topic can be consulted (Gass & Mackey, 2007). We include methods used with formal models, processing-based research, interaction-based research, research on strategies and cognitive processes, sociolinguistic and pragmatics-based research, and questionnaire and survey-based research. Finally, we discuss the use of databases in the second language research field. We begin with a discussion of the importance of pilot testing.
