Chapter published in:
Complex Dynamic Systems Theory and L2 Writing DevelopmentEdited by Gary G. Fogal and Marjolijn H. Verspoor
[Language Learning & Language Teaching 54] 2020
► pp. 161–182
Chapter 7The elusive phase shift
Capturing changes in L2 writing development and interaction between the cognitive and social ecosystems
Elizabeth Hepford | Wesleyan University
This chapter explores phase shifts,
which occur when dynamic systems enter a period of fluctuation that results
in a new stable pattern (Larsen-Freeman
& Cameron, 2008). Phase shifts remain elusive in L2 writing
research due to a lack sufficiently dense data to detect them and a lack of
recognition when they occur. Moreover, the majority of L2 writing research
involving phase shift analysis focuses on cognitive factors analyzed with
quantitative tools, thus neglecting qualitative methods and the influence of
external social factors that may impact change. This chapter examines the
definition of phase shifts, reviews relevant complexity theory-inspired
quantitative and qualitative methodologies for analyzing L2 writing, and
proposes adapting quantitative descriptive research techniques (Ortega & Iberri-Shea, 2005) to
investigate social ecosystem variables that may lead to phase shifts.
Keywords: phase shifts, cognitive ecosystem, social ecosystem, research methods
Article outline
- Introduction
- What is a phase shift?
- The interacting social and cognitive ecosystems
- Cognitive ecosystems
- Social ecosystems
- Finding phase shifts
- Quantitative measurements for investigating the cognitive ecosystem
- Qualitative analyses in the social ecosystem
- Finding control parameters using social ecosystem factors
- Discussion and conclusion
-
References
Published online: 04 June 2020
https://doi.org/10.1075/lllt.54.07hep
https://doi.org/10.1075/lllt.54.07hep
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