An Analysis on Research Trends in Korean Language Education: Focusing on Quantitative Research Methods

한국어교육 연구방법론에 대한 동향분석 -양적연구를 중심으로-

The purpose of this study is to classify research methods used in Korean language education studies with a focus on identifying how and what quantitative research methods are utilized in these studies. Analyzing articles published in the Journal of Korean Language Education from 2005 to 2016, we found a trend that as a replacement for secondary research, primary research played a more prominent role after 2010, as the number of quantitative studies and studies using mixed methods increased. We also found that within quantitative studies of Korean language education, research themes and statistical analyses became diversified after 2010. In order for quantitative research to contribute continuously to Korean language education, the quality of research has to improve. In particular, quantitative researchers in this area should: (a) increase their general understanding of statistical methods, (b) conduct "power analysis" to determine the appropriate sample size for hypothesis testing, and (c) be aware of measurement issues such as measurement equivalence and DIF when measuring latent psychological constructs. It is also important to notice that these points above should be considered carefully in the planning and designing stage for researchers.