Scott Sterling

Dr. Scott Sterling is a Professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics at Indiana State University's College of Arts & Sciences. His expertise spans second language acquisition, research ethics, and applied linguistics. He holds a Ph.D. in Second Language Studies from Michigan State University (2015), an M.A. in Linguistics from the University of Montana (2010), and a B.A. in Anthropology and Spanish from Southeast Missouri State University (2008).

His research focuses on research ethics in applied linguistics, including questionable research practices (QRPs), community-engaged scholarship, and open science. Notable contributions include developing ethical decision-making taxonomies and advocating for transparent research methodologies. Dr. Sterling has published extensively in journals like TESOL Quarterly and Language Teaching, as well as edited volumes such as Addressing Questionable Research Practices in Applied Linguistics.

• Recent work emphasizes QRPs prevalence and mitigation strategies
• Explores student motivation and language program vitality in higher education
• Pioneers ethics training frameworks for applied linguistics researchers

He has received awards including the 2024 Educational Excellence Award and led over $2M in funded projects, including grants from HRSA and Vetenskapsrådet. Dr. Sterling also serves on Indiana State's Institutional Review Board and coordinates ESL programs with international partners like Vietnam's An Giang University.