Qualitative and Quantitative Research in Second Language Teaching and Learning

Qualitative and quantitative researches are two major approaches in the study of second language learning and teaching, each representing a special research method in the anthropological studies. Qualitative approach moves from data to a hypothesis while the quantitative approach begins with a postulate and ends in the testing of the postulate with data, as a result, it is reasonable to take the qualitative approach as an inductive method and the quantitative approach as a deductive method. These two approaches both have their advantages and disadvantages. While doing qualitative research the researcher should bear in mind the different background of the students tested. On the other hand, the researcher using the quantitative method often suffers the limitation imposed upon him or her by the predefined requirement of the experiment. Only an apt and suitable coordination of the two approaches can make the study of second language teaching and learning successful and fruitful.\;