Research Methods in Applied Linguistics (P00256)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : PPL-P-RMALLING

The Research Methods course covers both qualitative and quantitative methods, including focused work on statistics. It is intended, not only to provide students with basic training for immediate needs (such as essay and project writing) but also to encourage them to engage research generally. It helps participants to understand and, within limits, to carry out themselves, various kinds of research, from large-scale experiments and surveys to small-scale case studies.

Entry Requirements

? Special Arrangements for Entry : Dr Rob Clark will be Course Organiser for the Statistics of this course.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Language Sciences, (School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Schedule I)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) per week for 9 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
22/09/2006	11:00	13:00	Tutorial Room M1, Appleton Tower	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Laboratory	Tuesday	15:00	18:00	Central
Laboratory	Friday	15:00	18:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course participants will be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding, at a basic level, of a wide range of research paradigms (e.g. sociometric, ethnographic, illuminative, formative programme evaluation, action research, exploratory practice) and research instruments (e.g. interviews, questionnaires, tests, classroom coding systems, learner diaries, repertory grids);
- apply the above knowledge and understanding to evaluate published research and to design their own, paying due attention to the fit between context, purpose, paradigm and instrument;
- evaluate the validity of published research, and achieve validity in their own research designs;
- acheive a basic understanding of descriptive and inferential statistics;
- produce academic writing of acceptable standard.