Description and contextualization of the subject

The main objective of the course is to familiarize students with the scientific research methods used in linguistics. The methodological course is offered in order to guide the students through the different steps involved in the job of a researcher which includes identifying the theoretical hypotheses, determining the research methods, collecting and analyzing the data, extracting conclusions and writing and publishing the results in journal articles and/or books. The course is also focused to support the students in the organization of the Master's Thesis with which they conclude their studies.

Ordinary call: orientations and renunciation

1. Participation: 10%

2. Autonomous work outside the classroom / Periodic tasks: 20%

3. Conference poster: 20%

4. Abstract: 10%

5. Teamwork: 10%

6. Report: 30%



Observations: Since a continuous assessment method is used in this course, those students who have completed 25% of the evaluation activities will not be able to give up the corresponding call.

Extraordinary call: orientations and renunciation

Due to the eminently practical nature of the course, in case of FAIL or NOT PRESENTED evaluations in the ordinary call, the only evaluation activities recoverable in the extraordinary call are the experiment (design and report), the abstract and the poster. The marks obtained in the concepts of active participation and weekly tasks will remain unchanged in the extraordinary call.

Temary

Topic 1. The scientific method applied to linguistic research

CLASS 1: Search and organization of bibliographic information (bibliographic databases, electronic journals, citation managers, etc.)

CLASS 2: The hypothetico-deductive reasoning. Theoretical predictions and research questions, observational and experimental methods.



Topic 2. Introduction to linguistic research methods

CLASS 3: Introduction to experimental methods and linguistic data: Linguistic databases (corpora), software for data collection (linguistic surveys, reaction times, acceptability judgments, etc.)

CLASS 4: Experimental methods and linguistic data: Practical class. Design of an experiment / survey and preparation for data collection (group exercise).



Topic 3: Introduction to data analysis methods

CLASS 5: Introduction to descriptive statistics: Average, standard deviation, confidence intervals, distributions, etc.

CLASS 6: Introduction to inferential statistics and interpretation of results: t-test, Analysis of variance, etc.

CLASS 7: Data analysis of the experiments carried out by each group and their interpretation.

Each student will be required to write an individual work reporting the design of the study prepared in by the group and the results obtained.



Topic 4 The profession of linguist.

CLASS 8: Conference presentations I: Abstracts, posters and oral communications.

CLASS 9: Conference presentations II: Preparation of an abstract and/or a poster (individual work).

CLASS 10: Research Projects: Reading and evaluation of research projects (e.g., PhD project).

Bibliography

Basic bibliography

Ashby, Mike. 2005. How to write a paper. University of Cambridge.

Bell, Judith. 2010. Doing your research project. New York: McGraw-Hill. 5th ed.

Dawson, Catherine. 2009. Introduction to Research Methods. Begbroke, Oxford (UK): How to books. 4th ed.

Erren, T. E. & Bourne, P. E. (2007). Ten simple rules for a good poster presentation. PLoS Computational Biology, 3, 777-778.

Huang, Y, & Ferreira, F. (2020). The Application of Signal Detection Theory to Acceptability Judgments. Front. Psychol. 11:73. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00073

Koltay, Tibor. 2010. Abstracts and abstracting: A genre and skills for the 21st century. Oxford: Chandos Publishing.

Rozakis, Laurie. 2007. Writing great research papers. New York: McGraw-Hill. 2nd ed.

Stowe, Laurie & Edith Kaan. 2006. Developing an Experiment: Techniques and Design. Based on the Groningen 2002 version 2006: https://ufdc.ufl.edu/IR00005517/00001

Swales, John M. and Christine B. Feak. 2009. Abstracts and the Writing of Abstracts. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press. https://www.press.umich.edu/309332

Swetnam, Derek & Ruth Swetnam. 2009. Writing your Dissertation. Oxford (UK): How to books. 3rd ed. (revised).

Winstanley, Carrie. 2009. Writing a Dissertation (for dummies). Chichester, West Sussex (UK): John Wiley & Sons. UK version.

Wolcott T. G. Mortal sins in poster presentations or how to give the poster no one remembers. Newsletter Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Fall: 10–11.

Wray, Alison & Aileen Bloomer. 2006. Projects in Linguistics. London: Hodder Education. 2nd ed.

In-depth bibliography

Bibliography on research methods and statitstics



Field, A. & Hole, G. J. (2003). How to Design and Report Experiments. Sage Publications.



Gries, S. Th. (2013). Statitstics for linguistics with R. De Gruyter Mouton.



Johnson, Keith, (2008). Quantitative Methods in Linguistics. Malden, MA:Blackwell.



Winter, B. (2019). Statistics for Linguists: An Introduction Using R (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315165547

Journals

Behavior Research Methods



Journal of Memory and Language



Lingua



Glossa

Links

Platforms to run experiments online:







QUALTRICS: http://www.qualtrics.com/







IBEXFARM: https://spellout.net/ibexfarm







Statistical analysis software: https://www.r-project.org/







Introduction to statistical analyses: www.statisticshell.com/







JASP - A Fresh Way to Do Statistics https://jasp-stats.org/







Semmelweis y el método hipotético deductivo: http://es.scribd.com/doc/7859654/Semmelweis-y-el-metodo-hipotetico-deductivo y http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xaq9rf_historia-de-la-asepsia-semmelweis_school (video "Historia de la asepsia")







How to write an abstract: http://www.ece.cmu.edu/~koopman/essays/abstract.html







Creating an Effective Conference Presentation: http://www.kon.org/karlin.html







Cómo hacer un póster científico con Powerpoint y/o Keynote. Plantillas: http://www.esebertus.com/blog/2009/02/04/como-hacer-un-poster-cientifico-con-powerpoint-yo-keynote-plantillas/







Guidelines for poster presentations: http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/posterpres.html







How to organize your thesis: http://www.sce.carleton.ca/faculty/chinneck/thesis.html