Overview
This database contains references to empirical second and foreign language studies
comparing the effectiveness of computer-assisted pedagogy with other modes of
instruction. Computer technology in these studies ranges from basic computer
applications and computer-assisted language learning (CALL)
programs to the Internet and course management
systems. Comparisons are made between use of these technologies and face-to-face
classroom teaching that does not involve any technology. This database was compiled
to help CALL researchers efficiently identify relevant studies from a variety
of sources including journals, reports, and unpublished doctoral dissertations.
Searching
The database can be searched using drop-down menus in some of the categories
or using a user-supplied key word search in others. The complete list of studies
in the database can be found in this pdf
document.
Source of
References
The studies in this database were obtained by a computer search of three electronic
databases and hand search of six journals. The search covered the period from
early 1970s to December 2006 and included studies that examined second and foreign
language learners, non-native speakers of a language, who were given both traditional
and some type of computer instruction (CALL
as an add on course component, CALL
as experiment, stand
alone CALL course, or blended instruction).
The electronic databases, Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts (LLBA), Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), and Dissertation Abstracts (DA), abstract most of the relevant journals in language teaching and computer-assisted learning. The following terms in various combinations were used in the search: computer assisted language learning, computer assisted instruction, computer assisted learning, computer based instruction, computer instruction, traditional instruction, second language, foreign language, differ*, compar*, PLATO, and TICCIT. The database search produced around seventy references.
A more detailed manual search of the following journals was conducted: Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL), System, CALICO Journal, ReCALL, Language Learning and Technology (LLT), and TESOL Quarterly. This search of the journals revealed some twenty articles other than those found through the database search because some of the journals were not abstracted (for example LLT) and some comparison studies did not contain the key words used in the search.
Contents
The database contains the following
categories (defined as shown) and descriptors:
| Category | Definition | Descriptors |
| Citation | full source of the reference | |
| Primary skill | skill the study focuses on | reading, writing, vocabulary, communication, grammar, pronunciation, integrated skills, other skills |
| Secondary skill | any additional language skills | translation, learner strategies, vocabulary communication, reading, grammar |
| Language(s) taught | second or foreign language taught in the study | ESL, EFL, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian |
| Participants’ language level | proficiency level |
beginner, intermediate, advanced,varied |
| Number of participants | total number of participants in the study | |
| Participants’ native language | participants’ native language | Spanish, English, Chinese, German, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Afrikaans, Danish, Portuguese, Thai, varied |
| Setting | setting where the study takes place | kindergarten, primary, secondary, college, private language school, adult literacy center |
| Technology used | computer technology employed | CALL program, computer application, CMC, web, course management system, online course, simulation |
| Technology details | name and short description of technology used | |
| Variable(s) | dependent and independent variables
|
|
| Description of groups | number of groups/courses and their names | |
| Type of CALL aspect | type of CALL aspect based on its length and integration into the language course | stand alone CALL course, CALL as an add on component, CALL as experiment, blended learning |
| Length of CALL aspect | duration of CALL aspect in hours, days, weeks, semesters | |
| Assignment | assignment of participants | random, non random, paired |
| Results | overall results of the study | significant difference, no significant difference, difference, no difference, mixed results |
| Results details | short description of results | |
| Pedagogy | details about the CALL pedagogy used in the study | |
| SLA | second language acquisition aspect of the study (input, output, feedback, interaction, type of task, accuracy, focus on form) |
Research
Synthesis
Based on the references in the database, a short synthesis of the comparison
studies addressing seven skill/knowledge areas was written and it can be found
here.
Author
This database was compiled by Maja Grgurovic, a doctoral student in the Applied
Linguistics and Technology Program at Iowa State University. Although the best
was done to include all sources, some may have been unintentionally missed.
The author would encourage suggestions for addition of studies and comments
at
Page last updated
May 21, 2007