Aims

This course provides a broad overview of the foundational issues with respect to experimental methodology in linguistics. Lectures will cover theoretical and philosophical considerations, methodological approaches and issues, and tools used in data collection. By the end of the course, students will be able to critically evaluate experimental research in linguistics, from both philosophical and methodological points of view. Alongside this, students will learn the basic skills necessary for carrying out their own experimental research project, including experimental design, data wrangling, and statistical analysis.

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: science communication, the scientific method, computational approaches to language and linguistic research, 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 menthods.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures present the module content.

The workshops will examine one or more particular aspects of that week's lectures in detail, either with respect to the theoretical or practical material. Small group teaching will focus on practical tools, skills, and software used in data collection, analysis, and presentation. Structured non-synchronous discussion will revolve around discussing issues arising in the set reading.

The drop-in/surgery sessions are for student consultation on the mid-semester and final assessments.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The mid semester essay enables students to engage in structured critique of the primary literature, preparing them to identify and design around specific shortcomings of current experimental approaches in the literature, and demonstrate their engagement with the concepts presented during the course of the module.

The end-of-semester assessment consists of a methods proposal on which they will recieve 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.