Research Methods in Language Learning
Course Convenor: Dr Alessandro Benati
Course Code: LING 1015
The increasing importance of reserach in the universities is reflected in the requirement for all university teachers to develop a research profile. Graduate students need a supported learning environment to develop an awareness of the role of research in academic development, and to design and carry out research projects. The aims of the course are:
- To develop an awareness of the role of scientific enquiry in language learning;
- To introduce students to the principles of data collection and analysis;
- To develop understanding of the relationship between theory of second language acquisition and design and execution of language learning programmes;
- To provide students with an opportunity to carry out a critical enquiry using an appropriate methodology in classroom studies;
- To enable students to manage the work effectively, by following stage by stage the initial components and elements of a classroom-based research project in language learning (Introduction, Background, Method);
- To enable students to analyse and present their conclusion in a manner appropriate to the classroom-based reserach project (Analysis, Interpretation, Conclusion);
- To enable students to make a contribution to knowledge and practice in the area of their investigation; and
- To enable students to integrate knowledge and data in order to provide an appropriate critical analysis.
On completion of the course students will understand:
- a variety of reserach designs and their applicability;
- the range of investigative methods available and their relative advantages and disadvantages;
- the major sources of information and techniques for information retrieval in the research process;
- the importance of defining the questions to be answered or the hypothesis to be tested;
- the need to conduct their investigation and present findings in a way which is acceptable in the academic context.
On the completion of the course students will be able to:
- formulate a research question or hypothesis;
- design a reserach investigation;
- gather data through a variety of research methods;
- discuss, analyse and draw inferences from data;
- structure their presentation in a way which reflects the research and analysis undertaken; and
- draw conclusions or make recommendations as appropriate.
Key texts
Nunan, D. (1992) Research Methods in Language Learning. CUP
Seliger, H. and Shohany, E. (1989) Second Language Research Methods. OUP
Benati, A. (2001)The experimental Methodology. GUP
Mackey, A. and Gass, S. (2006) Research Methods in Lanugage Learning. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.