Document Analysis as a Qualitative Research Instrument in EFL Evaluation. A Case Study of the Intensive English Program at TVTC

The purpose of this study is bidimensional. Firstly, it addresses the implications of adopting document analysis instrument in EFL evaluation (methodological purpose). Secondly, it appraises the Intensive English Program (IEP) at Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) structurally and contextually (situational purpose). The data are scrutinized qualitatively via reviewing 19 printed and online documents. The main findings disclose that all the examined variables pertaining IEP’s context are fulfilled. There is, nonetheless, a lack of some vital polices related to counselling, quality and administrative support. Also, input evaluation reveals that the instruction time is insufficiently and unevenly distributed in IEP. This paper recommends that IEP should consider some vital missing policies and regulations which may otherwise lead to undesirable consequences in implementation. Document analysis needs to be encouraged in EFL appraisal as an apt research instrument for evaluating the stated policies and rules. It involves sifting, investigating and interpreting data in order to discover meaning, gain deep understanding, and take the right decisions accordingly. However, this qualitative tool requires robust data collection procedures, an authorized access to the records, carful treatment of the data and neutral readings of the findings.