An essay on a general theory of qualitative research in didactics of languages-culture

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This essay proposes a general theory of research in didactics of languages-cultures (DLC) in the form of an overall model of research processes in this discipline –valid for both university researchers and teachers– developed within the framework of systems theory, whose concepts are used here analogously in the field of DLC. It presents a synthesis of 50 years' research experience and 20 years' experience as a research supervisor (master's theses and doctoral dissertations) in this discipline. The overall system of DLC research proposed here comprises two sub-systems: the praxeological sub-system, with praxeological models; the theoretical sub-system, with theories and theoretical models, both of which share the processing of field data. These two subsystems each operate according to their own internal logic, but through the same recursive processes (conceptualization, modeling, mobilization), as well as several specific linear processes (theoretical, methodological and technological applications, didactic transposition, theoretical implication, rhetorical mobilization). Recursive processes (i.e., provided by "recursive loops") ensure the coherence and stability of each subsystem through iteration and feedback, while the conceptualization of field data provides the interface between the two subsystems. Like any system, the global DLC research system modeled in this way receives "inputs" –of five types in the case of: empirical, methodological, technological, social and theoretical– and produces "outputs" –books, articles, exchanges between researchers at meetings, textbooks, practical information sheets, etc.– likely to provoke a change in the system. These are likely to provoke "reinputs" and "new inputs", as when exchanges between researchers or the analysis of textbooks leads to the evolution of thinking in the discipline and of intervention tools. This model was developed with DLC student-researchers in mind, in order to offer them a global vision of research activities and to help them design their own research work. It complements a model of research types already presented elsewhere and reproduced here as an appendix. Also available on ResearchGate at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383693418.

Version française originale disponible sur ResearchGate à l'adresse https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383693432, et sur www.christian puren.com: 2024i.