Using Digital Technology to Educate Language Teachers about the Design, Development, and Use of Research in Applied Linguistics

Argumentation theory is the interdisciplinary study of how conclusions can be reached through logical reasoning, and logical reasoning is an important component in the design and development of research in applied linguistics. One of the most influential theories of argumentation in current use is the structure proposed by Toulmin (2003), which consists of six components—claims, data, warrants, backing, rebuttals, and inferential links. In Toulmin’s argument structure, these components unfold to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of an argument. In our presentation, we offer a fully developed research use argument (RUA) complete with claims, warrants, backing, rebuttals, and inferential links (Bachman & Palmer, 2010). The RUA is presented using a newly developed Python-based software application. The RUA and the software application make important contributions to furthering research in instructed second language acquisition and applied linguistics because these tools make research, both consuming research and conducting classroom-based research, accessible to new researchers and classroom teachers who are interested in instructed second language acquisition. The RUA supports new researchers and their mentors by providing the logical and clearly defined components of the argument structure, and the software application also addresses concerns in the field of applied linguistics related to replication research (Ellis, 2019) by guiding users to supply specific data that are necessary for replication.