Enhancing language for developing conceptual understanding: A research journey connecting different research approaches

Typical problems in mathematics education require the pursuit of several research goals: not only explaining the problem and its underlying mechanisms, but also designing and evaluating instructional approaches for overcoming them. When the problem is complex, various research approaches need to be combined. In this plenary paper, I will summarize several steps from a 13-year research journey to serve as an example of how different research approaches can be connected to gain deep insights into language-responsive mathematics instruction. On a meta-level, the paper reflects the affordances and challenges of connecting different research approaches and thereby advertises extension of the networking practices that have been well established in ERME research.