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Educational Technology Research Trends in Turkey: Investigating Graduate Theses in English Language Teaching

Year 2021, Volume: 9 Issue: 17, 102 - 124, 27.04.2021
https://doi.org/10.18009/jcer.839738

Abstract

The goal of the present study is to investigate educational technology research trends across graduate thesis written in the field of English language teaching and learning between 2016 and 2020 in the context of Turkey. A total of 146 theses were examined by means of a descriptive content analysis methodology. The findings of the study demonstrated that the research focus of the theses was dominated by attitudinal studies and research exploring digital literacies and 21st century skills, while four groups of technologies were strongly prevalent across the theses, which were CALL resources in general, video-based materials, skill-based Web 2.0 tools, and learning management systems (LMS) and e-learning platforms. It was also found that the majority of researchers adopted mixed-methods approach, commonly employed survey, interview, and achievement tests as data collection tools, and frequently analyzed the data by means of quantitative analysis methods. Following the discussion of each finding within the context of both educational technology and English language teaching scholarship, the study concludes with several suggestions in the light of the results.

References

  • Arıkan, A., & Yılmaz, A. F. (2020). Pre-service english language teachers’ problematic sounds. International e-Journal of Educational Studies (IEJES), 4 (7), 1-26.
  • Aydınlı, J., & Ortaçtepe, D. (2018). Selected research in applied linguistics and English language teaching in Turkey: 2010-2016. Language Teaching, 51(2), 210-245.
  • Cesur, K., Muhammed, K. Ö. K., & Aydın, Ç. (2018). Content analysis of abstracts on ELT research available in Turkish journalpark academic platform. ELT Research Journal, 7(2), 58-77.
  • Chen, Z., Chen, W., Jia, J., & An, H. (2020). The effects of using mobile devices on language learning: a meta-analysis. Educational Technology Research and Development, 68(4), 1769-1789.
  • Dirlikli, M., Aydın, K., & Akgün, L. (2016). Cooperative learning in Turkey: A content analysis of theses. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 16(4), 1251-1273.
  • Durak, G., Çankaya, S., Yünkül, E., Urfa, M., Topraklıklıoğlu, K., Arda, Y., & İnam, N. (2017). Trends in distance education: A content analysis of master's thesis. TOJET: The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 16(1), 203-218.
  • Durak, G., Çankaya, S., Yunkul, E., & Mısırlı, Z. A. (2018). A content analysis of dissertations in the field of educational technology: The case of Turkey. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 19(2), 128-148.
  • Gökmen, Ö. F., Uysal, M., Yasar, H., Kirksekiz, A., Güvendi, G. M., & Horzum, M. B. (2017). Methodological trends of the distance education theses published in Turkey from 2005 to 2014: A content analysis. Education and Science, 42(189), 1-25.
  • Göktaş, Y., Kucuk, S., Aydemir, M., Telli, E., Arpacik, O., Yildirim, G., & Reisoglu, I. (2012). Educational technology research trends in Turkey: A content analysis of the 2000-2009 decade. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 12(1), 191-199.
  • Güler, H., & Taş, E. (2020). Thematic content analysis for pre-school science education research areas in Turkey. Journal of Computer and Education Research, 8(15), 323-343.
  • Inal, D., Özdemir, E., Kiray, G., & Oral, Y. (2016). Review of doctoral research in English language teaching and learning in Turkey (2009-2013). Language Teaching, 49(3), 390-410.
  • Kessler, G. (2018). Technology and the future of language teaching. Foreign Language Annals, 51(1), 205-218.
  • Kırmızı, O. (2012). Research trends in MA ELT programs in Turkey. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 4687-4691.
  • Koçyiğit, M., & Erdem, C. (2018). A content analysis of graduate research on English preparatory programs at universities. Journal of Human Sciences, 15(3), 1466-1480.
  • Küçük, S., Aydemir, M., Yildirim, G., Arpacik, O., & Goktas, Y. (2013). Educational technology research trends in Turkey from 1990 to 2011. Computers & Education, 68, 42-50.
  • Özmen, K. S., Cephe, P. T., & Kinik, B. (2016). Trends in doctoral research on English language teaching in Turkey. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 16(5), 1737-1759.
  • Parmaxi, A., & Zaphiris, P. (2016). Web 2.0 in Computer-Assisted Language Learning: a research synthesis and implications for instructional design and educational practice. Interactive Learning Environments, 25(6), 704-716.
  • Shadiev, R., Hwang, W. Y., & Huang, Y. M. (2017). Review of research on mobile language learning in authentic environments. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 30(3-4), 284-303.
  • Solak, E. (2014). The Content analysis of the research papers on foreign language education in Turkey. International Journal of English and Education, 3(3), 167-178.
  • Strelan, P., Osborn, A., & Palmer, E. (2020). The flipped classroom: A meta-analysis of effects on student performance across disciplines and education levels. Educational Research Review, 30 100314.
  • Şimşek, M. R., & Dündar, E. (2017). Investigating EFL coursebook research in Turkey: Trends in graduate theses of the 2001-2013 period. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 17(3), 969-1014.
  • Şişman, E. P., Büyükkarcı, K., & Özyurt, E. (2019). Research in ELT: Turkish Context. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Congress on Research in Education, 91-100.
  • Uzunboylu, H., & Kocakoyun, S. (2016). A content analysis of master and doctorate thesis in the area of gamification. International Journal of Innovative Research In Education, 3(3), 143-154.
  • Yağız, O., Aydın, B., & Akdemir, A. S. (2016). ELT research in Turkey: A content analysis of selected features of published articles. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 12(2), 117-134.
  • Yıldırım, A., & Şimşek, H. (2013). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri (Qualitative research methods in social sciences) (9th ed.). Ankara: Seçkin Yayınevi.
  • Yıldız, E. P., Cengel, M., & Alkan, A. (2020). Current trends in education technologies research worldwide: Meta-analysis of studies between 2015-2020. World Journal on Educational Technology: Current Issues, 12(3), 192-206.

Educational Technology Research Trends in Turkey: Investigating Graduate Theses in English Language Teaching

Year 2021, Volume: 9 Issue: 17, 102 - 124, 27.04.2021
https://doi.org/10.18009/jcer.839738

Abstract

The goal of the present study is to investigate educational technology research trends across graduate thesis written in the field of English language teaching and learning between 2016 and 2020 in the context of Turkey. A total of 146 theses were examined by means of a descriptive content analysis methodology. The findings of the study demonstrated that the research focus of the theses was dominated by attitudinal studies and research exploring digital literacies and 21st century skills, while four groups of technologies were strongly prevalent across the theses, which were CALL resources in general, video-based materials, skill-based Web 2.0 tools, and learning management systems (LMS) and e-learning platforms. It was also found that the majority of researchers adopted mixed-methods approach, commonly employed survey, interview, and achievement tests as data collection tools, and frequently analyzed the data by means of quantitative analysis methods. Following the discussion of each finding within the context of both educational technology and English language teaching scholarship, the study concludes with several suggestions in the light of the results.

References

  • Arıkan, A., & Yılmaz, A. F. (2020). Pre-service english language teachers’ problematic sounds. International e-Journal of Educational Studies (IEJES), 4 (7), 1-26.
  • Aydınlı, J., & Ortaçtepe, D. (2018). Selected research in applied linguistics and English language teaching in Turkey: 2010-2016. Language Teaching, 51(2), 210-245.
  • Cesur, K., Muhammed, K. Ö. K., & Aydın, Ç. (2018). Content analysis of abstracts on ELT research available in Turkish journalpark academic platform. ELT Research Journal, 7(2), 58-77.
  • Chen, Z., Chen, W., Jia, J., & An, H. (2020). The effects of using mobile devices on language learning: a meta-analysis. Educational Technology Research and Development, 68(4), 1769-1789.
  • Dirlikli, M., Aydın, K., & Akgün, L. (2016). Cooperative learning in Turkey: A content analysis of theses. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 16(4), 1251-1273.
  • Durak, G., Çankaya, S., Yünkül, E., Urfa, M., Topraklıklıoğlu, K., Arda, Y., & İnam, N. (2017). Trends in distance education: A content analysis of master's thesis. TOJET: The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 16(1), 203-218.
  • Durak, G., Çankaya, S., Yunkul, E., & Mısırlı, Z. A. (2018). A content analysis of dissertations in the field of educational technology: The case of Turkey. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 19(2), 128-148.
  • Gökmen, Ö. F., Uysal, M., Yasar, H., Kirksekiz, A., Güvendi, G. M., & Horzum, M. B. (2017). Methodological trends of the distance education theses published in Turkey from 2005 to 2014: A content analysis. Education and Science, 42(189), 1-25.
  • Göktaş, Y., Kucuk, S., Aydemir, M., Telli, E., Arpacik, O., Yildirim, G., & Reisoglu, I. (2012). Educational technology research trends in Turkey: A content analysis of the 2000-2009 decade. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 12(1), 191-199.
  • Güler, H., & Taş, E. (2020). Thematic content analysis for pre-school science education research areas in Turkey. Journal of Computer and Education Research, 8(15), 323-343.
  • Inal, D., Özdemir, E., Kiray, G., & Oral, Y. (2016). Review of doctoral research in English language teaching and learning in Turkey (2009-2013). Language Teaching, 49(3), 390-410.
  • Kessler, G. (2018). Technology and the future of language teaching. Foreign Language Annals, 51(1), 205-218.
  • Kırmızı, O. (2012). Research trends in MA ELT programs in Turkey. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 4687-4691.
  • Koçyiğit, M., & Erdem, C. (2018). A content analysis of graduate research on English preparatory programs at universities. Journal of Human Sciences, 15(3), 1466-1480.
  • Küçük, S., Aydemir, M., Yildirim, G., Arpacik, O., & Goktas, Y. (2013). Educational technology research trends in Turkey from 1990 to 2011. Computers & Education, 68, 42-50.
  • Özmen, K. S., Cephe, P. T., & Kinik, B. (2016). Trends in doctoral research on English language teaching in Turkey. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 16(5), 1737-1759.
  • Parmaxi, A., & Zaphiris, P. (2016). Web 2.0 in Computer-Assisted Language Learning: a research synthesis and implications for instructional design and educational practice. Interactive Learning Environments, 25(6), 704-716.
  • Shadiev, R., Hwang, W. Y., & Huang, Y. M. (2017). Review of research on mobile language learning in authentic environments. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 30(3-4), 284-303.
  • Solak, E. (2014). The Content analysis of the research papers on foreign language education in Turkey. International Journal of English and Education, 3(3), 167-178.
  • Strelan, P., Osborn, A., & Palmer, E. (2020). The flipped classroom: A meta-analysis of effects on student performance across disciplines and education levels. Educational Research Review, 30 100314.
  • Şimşek, M. R., & Dündar, E. (2017). Investigating EFL coursebook research in Turkey: Trends in graduate theses of the 2001-2013 period. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 17(3), 969-1014.
  • Şişman, E. P., Büyükkarcı, K., & Özyurt, E. (2019). Research in ELT: Turkish Context. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Congress on Research in Education, 91-100.
  • Uzunboylu, H., & Kocakoyun, S. (2016). A content analysis of master and doctorate thesis in the area of gamification. International Journal of Innovative Research In Education, 3(3), 143-154.
  • Yağız, O., Aydın, B., & Akdemir, A. S. (2016). ELT research in Turkey: A content analysis of selected features of published articles. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 12(2), 117-134.
  • Yıldırım, A., & Şimşek, H. (2013). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri (Qualitative research methods in social sciences) (9th ed.). Ankara: Seçkin Yayınevi.
  • Yıldız, E. P., Cengel, M., & Alkan, A. (2020). Current trends in education technologies research worldwide: Meta-analysis of studies between 2015-2020. World Journal on Educational Technology: Current Issues, 12(3), 192-206.
There are 26 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Other Fields of Education
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Osman Solmaz 0000-0003-2983-1177

Publication Date April 27, 2021
Submission Date December 12, 2020
Acceptance Date February 24, 2021
Published in Issue Year 2021 Volume: 9 Issue: 17

Cite

APA Solmaz, O. (2021). Educational Technology Research Trends in Turkey: Investigating Graduate Theses in English Language Teaching. Journal of Computer and Education Research, 9(17), 102-124. https://doi.org/10.18009/jcer.839738

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