Paradigm controversies, contradictions, and emerging confluences

  The vast ocean between theory and practice

    Some articles related to Applied Linguistics make me doubt whether they were written by humans. An article published in 2005 by Guba and Lincoln, called "Paradigm controversies, contradictions, and emerging confluences" is a vivid example. The article raises some controversial issues among the practitioners of new and emergent paradigms, who are looking for key elements that would distinguish their paradigms from those of the others. An average reader, let's say an average language teacher, looking for some guidance for his teaching, will probably need some psychological help after reading this article. Abstract terms, ideas and theory without a hint of its applicability all flood together and leave the teacher clueless as how to improve his teaching the next day, how to make his lessons more effective. While it is clear that such articles might be useful for a narrow circle of researchers that speak the same language in which the article is written, the question is for who, in the long run, is all the research done? If it's ultimately intended for teachers, I am afraid, it will find its readers frustrated and will probably lose them after the first few pages.  
 P.S. I read Loudres Ortega's article called "For What and for Whom is out Research" after writing this post. The author brings up the issue of the "lack of relevance of SLA research for teachers". Research, as author states, is useful when it serves societal needs. Otherwise, it may face the issue of being useless.