Module Catalogue 2026/27

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 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.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of this module, it is anticipated that you will:
- Gain an in-depth understanding of theoretical approaches to a range of topics in linguistics
- Recognize the breadth of experimental methodologies used to collect empirical data in linguistics
- Recognize the constraints of experimental approaches, and understand how the scientific method is applied to different fields of linguistic research
- Understand and be able to critically evaluate scientific and interpretive methods, findings, and conclusions in primary literature

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of this module, you will have developed the following skills:
- Ability to critically evaluate data previously collected by researchers using experimental methodologies
- Ability to extend theoretical training and problem solving skills from other (linguistic) courses to a new area of research
- Ability to recognize research questions and hypotheses and consider how they can be put to empirical test
- Ability to design and present sound experimental methodology
- Familiarity with approaches to data wrangling, visualization and statistical analysis, sufficient to move on to more advanced practical work in linguistics

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 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.

General Notes

N/A