Course Overview
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Course Synopsis
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Research methodology provides a comprehensive overview of basic and more advanced research methodologies in applied linguistics and offers an advanced review of methods particular to various domains within the field. The course has been arranged thematically in 204 topics across 40 lessons it covers a range of research approaches presents current perspectives and addresses key issues in different research methods starting from the basics of research to designing and implementing research instruments and techniques and analyzing different types of applied linguistics data. Innovations challenges and trends in applied linguistics research are examined throughout the course. As such it offers an uptodate and highly accessible entry point into both established and emerging approaches that will offer fresh possibilities and perspectives as well as thorough consideration of best practices. This wideranging course will prove a valuable resource to applied linguists at all academic levels including related fields of language learning and teaching multilingualism corpus linguistics critical discourse analysis discourse analysis and pragmatics language assessment language policy and planning.
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Course Learning Outcomes
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At the end of the course students will be able to
- Discuss the fundamentals of research methods used in the field of English Language Teaching ELT.
- critically evaluate a research problem and formulate research questions and objectives for a study to address the issue.
- define relevant research terminology.
- design valid data collection instruments such as surveys and interviews and language tests.
- demonstrate a critical understanding of the relationship between research aims methods of data collection and analysis.
- use qualitative and quantitative methods for summarizing and evaluating empirical data.
- critically evaluate research studies on language learning and teaching.
- manage information using an appropriate documenting style.
- Cite based on the three basic referencing styles MLA CMS and APA used in social sciences.
- Write in a particular context the major components of a research study e.g. title abstract introduction research design discussion and conclusion
- present a research proposal and critically argue to defend the research design.
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Course Calendar
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Week 01
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2
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Definitions of research
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3
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General characteristics of research
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5
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Specific characteristics of ELT research
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7
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What is ELT research about?
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8
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Why is research in ELT important?
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9
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Demythologizing research
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10
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Identifying important questions in ELT
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11
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Classification of research
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12
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Major types of research
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14
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Scientific ways to solve problems
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15
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Characteristics of an investigator
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Week 02
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16
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Assortment of a problem
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17
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Identification of a problem
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18
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Criteria for the selection of a problem
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20
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Statement of a problem
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21
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Foundation of a hypothesis
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22
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Assumption, postulate and hypothesis
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23
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Functions and importance of a hypothesis
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25
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Characteristics of a good hypothesis
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26
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Variables in a hypothesis
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28
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The research variables combined
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29
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How to locate research?
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30
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HTLR: Searching answers for your questions
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Week 03
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31
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HTLR: Where to look and what to look for?
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32
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HTLR: Preliminary sources
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33
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HTLR: Secondary sources
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34
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Locating primary research: exploring databases
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Quiz 1
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36
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LPR: Position papers vs primary research
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37
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LPR: Tables of references and bibliographies
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38
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LPR: Difference between primary & secondary sources
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39
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Obtaining ELT related research articles
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40
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Journals related to ELT research
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41
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Exploring ELT research journals
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44
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The information-rich paradigm
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45
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Representative sampling paradigm
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Week 04
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46
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Ethics in sampling of human participants
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47
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Research planning and sampling
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48
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Meaning and Definition of sampling
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Assignment
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51
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Characteristics of good sampling
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52
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Avoiding errors in sampling
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54
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AES: Internal validity
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55
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AES: External validity
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56
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AES: Representativeness
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57
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AES: Reliability of sampling
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58
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Classifying research designs
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60
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CRD: The basic-applied continuum
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Week 05
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61
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CRD: The qualitative - quantitative continuum
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62
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CRD: The exploratory - confirmatory continuum
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63
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Questions and research designs
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64
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Q&D: The WHAT questions
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65
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Q&D: The WHAT questions (Examples)
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66
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Q&D: The WHY questions
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67
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Q&D: The WHY questions (Examples)
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68
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Q&RD: Extraneous factors to avoid
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69
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EFTA: History & maturation
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70
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EFTA: control group contamination
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72
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EFTA: avoiding various factors
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73
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Data collection procedures
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74
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DCP: observational procedures
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75
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DCP: observational procedures examples
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Quiz 2
Week 06
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76
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DCP: instrumental procedures
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77
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DCP: instrumental procedures examples
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78
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Qualities of a good data collection procedures
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79
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QofGDGP: Reliability issues
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80
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QofGDGP: Reliability issues (Examples)
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81
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QofGDGP: Validity issues
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82
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QofGDCP: Validity issues (Examples)
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83
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Understanding research results
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84
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URR: Numerical vs verbal data
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85
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URR: Presentation and analysis
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86
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URR: Evaluating the quality of data
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87
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URR: Evaluating explanations and conclusion
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88
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URR: Evaluating explanations and conclusion (Summary)
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89
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URR: Presentation and analysis of numerical data
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90
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URR: Understanding statistics of data
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Week 07
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91
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Understanding statistical procedures
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Mid-Term Examination
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92
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Discussion: Main goals and writing approaches
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93
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Discussion: what is important (needed ingredients)?
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94
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Discussion: summarizing you key points (questions to be answered)
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95
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Discussion: defend your answers and their significance
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96
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Conclusion: key findings
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97
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Conclusion: logical next step
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98
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Conclusion: implication of finding
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99
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Conclusion: recommendations related to policy and practice
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100
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Conclusion: References, bibliography, work cited list and appendices
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101
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CRLR: what is important?
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102
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CRLR: why to write a LR?
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103
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CRLR: Structuring your LR?
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104
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CRLR: the multiple purposes of a LR
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105
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CRLR: including and excluding studies in your LR
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Week 08
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106
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DRLR: looking for sources and conducting searches
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107
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DRLR: Tips for finding relevant sources
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108
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DRLR: reading and note taking strategies
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109
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DRLR: adding your own comments – making connections
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110
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DRLR: the choice of reporting language
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111
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DRLR: techniques for writing a summary
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112
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DRLR: reference management, keeping record
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113
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DRLR: RMKR & organizing information II
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114
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WRLR: developing the structure of your LR
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115
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WRLR: being critical in your LR
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116
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WRLR: foregrounding writer’s voice
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117
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WRLR: the organization of your text
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118
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WRLR: reviewing your reviews
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119
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What is qualitative research?
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120
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Qualitative vs quantitative: basic differences
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Week 09
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121
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Sampling in qualitative research
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123
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Common qualitative study designs
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125
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Qualitative vs quantitative data analysis
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Quiz 3
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128
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Choosing and using computer software
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129
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Use of computer software in qualitative studies
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130
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Choosing software for qualitative studies
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131
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Common qualitative software
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132
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What is an action research?
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133
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Meaning & definition of AR
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135
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A framework of AR project
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Week 10
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136
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Suggestions for AR project
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138
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Purpose and uses of SM
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139
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Characteristics of SM
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141
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Suggestions for SM project
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143
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Basic assumptions behind the experiment
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144
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Types of variables in EM
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145
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Designs of experiments
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147
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Characteristics of a good ED
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148
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Checking for errors in EM
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GDB
Week 11
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151
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Kinds of question in HR
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152
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Locating relevant sources in HR
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153
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Evaluating relevant sources in HR
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154
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Advantages and disadvantages in HR
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158
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Criteria of a good CS
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160
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The framework of a research article
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161
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TFRA: finalizing your title
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162
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TFRA: finalizing your abstract
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163
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TFRA: writing an introduction to your study
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164
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TFRA: methodology section of your paper
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165
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TFRA: results section of your paper
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Week 12
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166
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TFRA: discussion and conclusion of your paper
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167
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Research proposal and synopsis
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168
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Writing a research proposal and synopsis
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169
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Components of a research proposal
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170
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Evaluating a research proposal
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171
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Conducting research and using research tools
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172
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MIAP: Evaluating sources
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173
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MIAP: Reading critically
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174
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MIAP: maintaining a working bibliography
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175
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MIAP: avoiding plagiarism and taking notes
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Quiz 4
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176
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American Psychological Association (APA): supporting a thesis
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177
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APA: citing sources – avoiding plagiarism
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178
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APA: integrating sources
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179
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APA: documenting sources
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180
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APA: manuscript format and sample paper
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Week 13
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181
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Studying literature (SL) I: the pre-critical response
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182
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Commenting on setting and plot
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183
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Commenting on characters and structure
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184
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Commenting on style and atmosphere
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186
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Introduction to textual scholarship, genre and source studies
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187
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Studying through textual scholarship
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188
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Studying through textual scholarship (examples)
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189
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Studying through genre studies
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190
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Studying through genre studies (examples)
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191
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Studying through source studies
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192
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Studying through source studies (examples)
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193
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Introduction to historical biographical approach
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194
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Historical biographical method: practice I
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195
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Historical biographical method: practice II
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196
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Introduction to moral philosophical approach
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197
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Moral philosophical method: practice I
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198
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Moral philosophical method: practice II
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199
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MLA: citing sources – avoiding plagiarism
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200
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MLA: documenting and integrating sources
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201
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MLA: manuscript format and sample paper
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202
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CMS: citing sources – avoiding plagiarism
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203
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CMS: documenting and integrating sources
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204
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CMS: manuscript format and sample paper
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Final Term
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