Conducting Undergraduate Research: EFL Students’ Perceptions and Practices

Abstract

Undergraduate research has received increasing attention for its potential applications in different domains of EFL contexts, including English language teaching and learning. The purposes of this mixed-methods study were to explore EFL students’ perceptions of the importance of conducting research at the undergraduate level and the challenges faced by students when conducting research. The population of the study was EFL undergraduate students studying at a university of foreign languages in central Vietnam. The sample consisted of 200 third-year and fourth-year students majoring in English Language Studies and English Language Teaching. The data were collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The results show that EFL students were aware of the importance of doing research at the undergraduate level and held positive attitudes towards participating in research as student researchers. In terms of the EFL students’ perceived practices of conducting undergraduate research, the findings reveal that the studied EFL students, with or without research experience, were prepared in a variety of ways to conduct research at the university level. However, the findings suggest that the reality of conducting undergraduate research did pose some considerable challenges for these students. The most frequently encountered difficulties included choosing an interesting research topic, developing a theoretical framework relevant to the research objectives, and identifying research gaps after reviewing prior studies. Recommendations are then put forward for EFL students, teachers, and institutions.