Xuanya Li, Xu Hou

(Foreign Language Teaching Department of Hainan University of Science and Technology)

Abstract：

Qualitative research in English applied linguistics has a relatively short history of development in China, and the number of related studies is far less than quantitative research. For certain reasons, people hold controversies and biases towards it. On the basis of defining the specific concepts and characteristics of some qualitative research methods in English language, this article analyzes their advantages and disadvantages, demonstrates their specific applications in reality, and proposes some suggestions for their development based on the current social situation.

Key Words：

qualitative research methods for English language; applied linguistics; inductive method; organic combination