| Acknowledgements | 第1-5页 |
| Chinese Abstract | 第5-7页 |
| English Abstract | 第7-12页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第12-16页 |
| ·A general description of the study | 第12页 |
| ·The need for the study | 第12-13页 |
| ·Significance of the study | 第13-15页 |
| ·The structure of the thesis | 第15-16页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第16-27页 |
| ·Key terms in the thesis | 第16-18页 |
| ·Speech act of refusal | 第16-17页 |
| ·The concept of face | 第17-18页 |
| ·Refusal strategy | 第18页 |
| ·Theoretical framework for the present study | 第18-21页 |
| ·Brown and Levinson’s politeness strategies | 第18-20页 |
| ·Gu Yueguo’s politeness principles | 第20-21页 |
| ·A review of previous study on refusal | 第21-27页 |
| ·Previous study abroad | 第21-25页 |
| ·Previous study at home | 第25-27页 |
| Chapter Three Methodology | 第27-38页 |
| ·Research questions | 第27页 |
| ·Research design | 第27-38页 |
| ·Quantitative research design | 第27-35页 |
| ·Qualitative research design | 第35-38页 |
| Chapter Four Results and Discussion | 第38-59页 |
| ·Results of the quantitative research | 第38-48页 |
| ·Frequency of direct vs. indirect strategies | 第38-39页 |
| ·Preference of strategy use between the two groups: overall results | 第39-47页 |
| ·Choice of refusal strategy relative to interlocutors’status | 第47-48页 |
| ·Results of the qualitative research | 第48-57页 |
| ·Collectivism highlighted in Chinese culture | 第48-51页 |
| ·Individualism highlighted in English culture | 第51-55页 |
| ·Other factors influencing the choice of refusal strategies | 第55-57页 |
| ·Discussion | 第57-59页 |
| Chapter Five Conclusion | 第59-63页 |
| ·Major findings of the study | 第59-60页 |
| ·Pedagogical implications of the study to EFL teaching and learning | 第60-61页 |
| ·Limitations and suggestions for future research | 第61-63页 |
| Bibliography | 第63-68页 |
| Appendix I Questionnaire in English | 第68-71页 |
| Appendix II Questionnaire in Chinese | 第71-72页 |
