Exploring advanced linguistic research in Chile: insights from an institutional analysis

This study explores the state of linguistic research in Chilean postgraduate programs, focusing on Master's and Doctoral theses in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics. Despite the growth of these programs, there is a lack of empirical data on their research productivity. The main objective was to identify, describe, and quantify the research areas developed in these programs from 2008 to 2018 and assess their post-graduation productivity. A mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques, was employed. Data were collected from Master's and Doctoral theses across seven public and private universities in Chile. The study cataloged thesis topics, identified key research areas, and analyzed research methodologies and epistemological stances. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to classify the data and identify dominant trends. Results showed that Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching and Learning was the most prevalent area, followed by Discourse Analysis and Sociolinguistics. Phonetics, Phonology, and General Linguistics were less common, while Psycholinguistics, Pragmatics, and Systemic Functional Grammar were underrepresented. The study also highlighted a lack of institutional follow-up regarding post-graduation research productivity, indicating a need for better tracking systems to foster ongoing academic engagement. This study provides an updated overview of linguistic research in Chilean postgraduate programs.