Practice in Research in Applied Linguistics 3301-JS2928-1ST
The best way to learn a skill is by doing it. This course is designed for those who have had an introduction to research methodology and would like to practice their skills and acquire new ones. The course is mostly practical.
Students will work in groups in order to design a study, collect data, prepare data for analysis, understand the results, and present their conclusions.
How the course is structured:
1. A brief overview of research methodology. This will take place in the first 2 or 3 classes, and in smaller amounts in select classes throughout the course. Some of the topics that will be included here include the following:
a. Quantitative vs. qualitative methodology
b. Types of variables and how to organize data
c. Types of studies (cross sectional vs. longitudinal, causal-comparative vs. correlational)
d. Common mistakes in research
2. Practical, hands-on experience in planning research and gathering data. Students will work in 2-3 groups, always with help from the teacher. The final task of each group is to prepare one study, collect data, and present the results. This process may take place in the following steps. Students:
a. come up with the idea for a study
b. come up with research questions.
c. design research material and tools
d. collect data
e. clean the data and prepare it for analysis
3. Practice in effective presentation of research results. Students present the results in class. If possible, and the students agree, the presentation may be open to other university students and members of staff.
Education at language level B2+
Type of course
Prerequisites (description)
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Knowledge: the graduate will be able to
- Identify the place and specificity of English Studies against the background of the discipline of linguistics within the humanities (K_W01)
- Describe methodology and recent developments in English linguistics (K_W03)
- Explain principles of designing linguistic studies, with special focus on selecting appropriate methods and tools in formulating research questions and testing research hypotheses (K_W07)
- Recall notions and principles pertaining to intellectual property and copyright law (K_W11)
Abilities: The graduate is able to
- Employ the terminology and methodological tools from applied linguistics.(K_U01)
- Employ the methodology of linguistics within English studies, respecting the ethical norms and copyright law (K_U02)
- Implement knowledge to describe a problem and identify means to solve it, thereby completing a project in linguistics (K_U04)
- Collect information from various sources, critically assess a source and usefulness of information; analyse and draw generalizations on the basis of information so obtained (K_U05)
- Employ modern technology for the sake of obtaining information and using various communication channels and techniques (K_U07)
- Plan and organise working alone and in a team to attain goals (K_U08)
- Design one’s own development (K_U11)
Social competences: the graduate is ready to
- Fulfill societal obligations and perform actions benefiting the social environment in accordance with the knowledge, skills and competences obtained in the course of studies at the program “English studies linguistics”. (K_K01)
- Undertake life-long learning and personal development, applying skills and competences to select subjects and projects optimally suiting one’s personal interests (K_K02)
- Value responsibility for one’s own work and respect the work of others, adhering to the professional and ethical norms in various projects and other activities undertaken at work, voluntary services, etc. (K_K03)
- Apply the skill to critically assess communicated content to think and act independently in various social situations (K_K04)
Assessment criteria
The final grade is based on:
• In-class participation during group work (40%)
• Mid-term presentation of project draft (20%)
• Final project (40%):
o Research rigor
o Final presentation of findings
Attendance: 3 absences are allowed.
If the participant receives an unsatisfactory grade, a second practical assessment (i.e., a second set of short tasks) will be provided.
Bibliography
The course is mostly practical, and any needed theoretical material will be provided. The list below refer to books that may be useful should participants intend to explore the topics further.
Dörnyei, Z. (2007) Research Methods in Applied Linguistics. Oxford: OUP.
Field, A. (2017). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (5th Ed.). Los Angeles: Sage.
Loewen, S. & Plonsky, L. (2016) An A-Z of Applied Research Methods. London: Palgrave.
Mackey, A. Gass, S. (eds.) (2012) Research Methods in Second Language Acquisition. A practical Guide. Wiley-Blackwell.
Perry Jr, F. L. (2011). Research in applied linguistics: Becoming a discerning consumer. Routledge.
Salkind, N. J., & Frey, B. B. (2019). Statistics for people who (think they) hate statistics (7th Ed.). Los Angeles: Sage.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: