SEL2229 : Experimental Methods in Linguistics
- Offered for Year: 2026/27
- Available for Study Abroad and Exchange students, subject to School approval at module registration
- Module Leader(s): Dr Emma Nguyen
- Owning School: English Lit, Language & Linguistics
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Pre-requisite
Modules you must have done previously to study this module
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| SEL1027 | Introduction to the Structure of Language 1: Phonetics, Phonology & Morphology |
| SEL1032 | Dealing with Data |
| MAS1499 | Quantitative Methods for Cognitive Science 1 |
Pre Requisite Comment
Please note that the prequistes indicate that a student may take this module if they've previously taken either SEL1032 *or* MAS1499 (or equivalent).
Co-Requisite
Modules you need to take at the same time
Co Requisite Comment
N/A
Aims
Linguists face the dual challenge of trying to understand language as a set of behaviors and as a system of knowledge, and as such, linguists often base their descriptions and analyses on some combination of naturalistic observation and introspection. Various experimental methods are being employed to more rigorously test the accuracy of linguistic data and/or gather novel sorts of data.
The purpose of this class is to introduce students to influential experimental methodologies and approaches to data analysis used in formal linguistic investigations. We will engage hands on with some of these techniques, and students will learn about core aspects of experimental design, details of experimental techniques that have been used with language, and the types of conclusions that can be drawn from them. Students will gain experience constructing their own experiments, as well as analyzing and interpreting experimental data.
Outline Of Syllabus
The course will focus on general philosophical, methodological, practical, and ethical issues that arise in the course of research in linguistics. Topics will include: the scientific method, null hypothesis testing, tools for collecting experimental data (online and in-lab), and basic data wrangling and statistics. The course will also introduce students to specific methods and tools allowing them to undertake survey-based or experimental research, and independently design their own experimental methods.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 42 | 1:00 | 42:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 2:00 | 22:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 70 | 1:00 | 70:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 55 | 1:00 | 55:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures present the module content.
Small group teaching will focus on practical tools, skills, and software used in data collection, analysis, and presentation.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/lab report | 2 | M | 30 | Data wrangling and analysis |
| Portfolio | 2 | A | 70 | A portfolio of written work. 2000 words or equivalent expanding upon a chosen linguistic topic and detailing a proposed novel experiment including stimuli design and discussion of anticipated data analysis. |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research proposal | 2 | M | Experimental design proposal |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The mid semester essay enables students to show applied knowledge of practical skills surrounding data wrangling and analysis learned during small group teaching.
The end-of-semester assessment consists of a methods proposal on which they will receive formative feedback prior to designing their own novel experimental methods. This will feed into the final essay which assesses the student's practical understanding of the general issues and ability to apply them creatively to their own novel experimental design.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- SEL2229's Timetable