Module Code - Title:
RM6011
-
RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES IN APPLIED LANGUAGE STUDIES
Year Last Offered:
2023/4
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
To introduce students to research methodologies in applied language studies.
To equip students with the skills necessary to draft a research proposal and a work plan.
To provide students with training in academic writing skills including bibliographic skills.
To explore the relevant electronic research tools for sourcing, storing and presenting research data.
To enable students to develop and structure future research projects.
Syllabus:
The nature of research and formulating a research question. Research methodologies: qualitative versus quantitative approaches, ensuring reliability and validity, survey research (sampling, questionnaire design etc.), text analysis and critical discourse analysis, content analysis, conversation and interaction analysis, interviews, classroom observation, action research, case studies. Researching and evaluating information and communication technologies for pedagogical purposes. Ethical issues and good practices in research involving human subjects. Electronic tools: databases and search skills, electronic reference managers. Academic writing: structure, work-plan and presentation. Literature review and referencing. Planning and writing a research proposal. Overall structure: from research question to thesis.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Understand and describe a variety of different research methods used in applied language studies
Critically review published works in their relevant field of research
Develop a research question appropriate for MA or PhD level research
Identify relevant data collection procedures
Develop the appropriate writing skills to produce a research proposal
Produce a detailed a research proposal suitable for MA or PhD level research
Undertake a supervised research project.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Demonstrate an appreciation of the ethical issues associated with undertaking a research project involving human subjects.
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Brown, J. D. (1988)
Understanding Research in Second Language Learning
, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Burns, A. (2009)
Doing Action Research in English Language Teaching. A Guide for Practitioners
, New York: Routledge
Denzin, N. K. and Lincoln, Y. S. (1998)
A Handbook of Qualitative Research
, Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage Publications
Leedy, P. D. and Ormrod, J. E. (2005)
Practical Research: Planning and Design. 8th edition
, New Jersey: Pearson Education
Nunan, D. (1992)
Research Methods in Language Teaching
, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Nunan, D. and Bailey, K. M. (2009)
Exploring Second Language Classroom Research - A Comprehensive Guide,
, New York: Heinle.
Alwright, D. and Bailey, K. M. (1991)
Focus on the Language Classroom: An Introduction to Classroom Research for Language Teachers
, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Other Relevant Texts:
Ballenger, B. (2001)
The Curious Researcher: A Guide to Writing Research Papers
, Needham Heights MA: Allyn and Bacon
Bauer, M. (ed.) (2000)
Qualitative Researching with Text, Image and Sound.
, London: Sage Publications.
Chalhoub-Deville, M., Chapelle, C. A. and Duff, P. A. (eds) (2006)
Inference and Generalizability in Applied Linguistics
, Amsterdam: John Benjamins
Cohen, L., Manion, L. and Morrison, K. (2007)
Research Methods in Education (6th Edition)
, London: Routledge.
Dörnyei, Z. (2003)
Questionnaires in Second Language Research: Construction, Administration and Processing,
, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Duff, P. (2007)
Case Study Research in Applied Linguistics.
, London: Routledge.
Larsen-Freeman, D. and Long, M. (1991)
An Introduction to Second Language Acquisition Research.
, London: Longman
Mckay, S. L. (2006)
Researching Second Language Classrooms
, New York: Routledge
McNiff, J. and Whitehead, J. (2005)
Action Research for Teachers: A Practical Guide
, London: David Fulton.
Meloy, J. M. (2002)
Writing the Qualitative Dissertation.
, London: Lawrence Erlbaum
Moore, S. (ed.) (2008)
Supporting Academic Writing Among Students and Academics
, SEDA Special
Murray, R. (2006)
How to Write a Thesis
, UK: Open University Press
Murray, R. and Moore, S. (2006)
The Handbook of Academic Writing: A Fresh Approach.
, UK: Open University Press
Perry, F. Jr. (2004)
Research in Applied Linguistics
, London: Annotation.
Prosser, J. (ed.) (1998)
Image-Based Research: A Source Book for Qualitative Researchers.
, London: Routledge
Scholfield, P. (1995)
Quantifying Language: A Researchers and Teachers Guide to Gathering Language Data and Reducing it to Figures.
, Clevedon, Avon: Multilingual Matters.
Shortt, M. and Thomas, J. (1996)
Using Corpora for Language Research.
, London: Longman.
Wallace, M. J. (1998)
Action Research for Language Teachers.
, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Yin, R. K. (1994)
Case Study Research: Design and Methods (2nd Ed.).
, Thousand Oaks, CA/London: Sage
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
Semester - Year to be First Offered:
Module Leader:
fiona.farr@ul.ie