Reflections on Researching Dynamics in Language Learning Psychology

Abstract

Humans are highly complex beings. Language and communication are complex systems. Combining psychology and language learning with the multifaceted communication process increases the complexity substantially. Add then to the mix the idea that all of these things are constantly changing over time and with even small differences in context, the challenge facing researchers in this field rounds into form. How does a research project capture such complexity and dynamism in a meaningful way without oversimplifying the lived reality? All three authors of this chapter have found taking a complexity-informed approach to research to be a most satisfying way of tackling this problem, but one that creates its share of challenges. In this chapter, we will reflect on our own experiences of grappling with the issues created by adopting a complexity perspective, focusing on timescales and dynamism. We will conclude this chapter with a series of recommendations, emerging from our experience, that we hope will assist other scholars wanting to research the dynamics of learner and/or teacher psychologies.