This edited volume brings together both established and emerging researcher voices from around the world to illustrate how complexity perspectives might contribute to new ways of researching and understanding the psychology of language learners and teachers in situated educational contexts. Chapter authors discuss their own perspectives on researching within a complexity paradigm, exemplified by concrete and original examples from their research histories. Moreover, chapters explore research approaches to a variety of learner and teacher psychological foci of interest in SLA. Examples include: anxiety, classroom group dynamics and group-level motivation, cognition and metacognition, emotions and emotion regulation strategies, learner reticence and silence, motivation, self-concept and willingness to communicate.

Key resource for academics in the field of language learning and teaching undertaking research through a complexity lens

About the Author

Richard J. Sampson is an Associate Professor at Rikkyo University, Japan. He uses action research approaches to give voice to the complex, situated experience of language learner psychology and is the author of Complexity in Classroom Foreign Language Learning Motivation (2016, Multilingual Matters).

Richard S. Pinner is an Associate Professor at Sophia University, Japan. His research focuses on the dynamic relationship between authenticity and motivation in language teaching and learning and his publications include Reconceptualising Authenticity for English as a Global Language (2016, Multilingual Matters).

Reviews

Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST) connects practice and research in ways that are abundantly illustrated in this excellent volume. The authors' first person accounts make CDST accessible and show its relevance. The volume is sure to inspire practitioner-researchers to use the ecological approach afforded by CDST to investigate and make sense of the lived realities of their own classrooms.

* Diane Larsen-Freeman, Professor Emerita, University of Michigan, USA *

It is relatively easy to write complex things about complexity theory - the real challenge is to follow the motto of the editors of this book, namely that complexity should be simple. This book goes a long way towards achieving this aim by gathering a well-chosen group of contributors whose deep interest in the real-life language classroom has created a common platform of 'down-to-earth complexity'. The result is a thought-provoking and enlightening book.

* Zoltan Doernyei, University of Nottingham, UK *

This volume opens up the world of applying a CDST perspective to research. With contributions that apply intriguing new designs and methods of data elicitation and analysis, readers will find that far from being terminological smoke and mirrors, CDST research can be made practical and useful. The result is a volume thoughtfully crafted in a way that enhances its accessibility and builds coherence in this still new but growing domain.

* Phil Hiver, Florida State University, USA *

The editors should definitely be applauded for compiling this impressive collection of papers and for their sincere efforts to make CDST more understandable to researchers and practitioners alike. Thinking back to the question I posed at the beginning of this review, there is no doubt that they have succeeded in "making complexity simple" for those who wish to research different aspects of the psychology of L2 learning and teaching through the lens of CDST.

-- Miroslaw Pawlak, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland * SSLLT 11 (1), 2021 *

By focusing on situational factors, this volume does an excellent job at providing empirical designs and analyses of learner and teacher psychology both in traditional and subtle methods from the perspective of CDST. This volume is an inspirational reference for teachers, researchers, practitioners-as-researchers, and teachers-as-co-researchers with highlighting practice to dig deeply into L2 psychology and investigate more themes, particularly in teacher psychology.

-- Siyu Duan, Changchun University of Finance and Economics, China * System, 2021 *



Book Information
ISBN 9781788923545
Author Richard J. Sampson
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Multilingual Matters
Publisher Multilingual Matters
Weight(grams) 501g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 156mm * 16mm