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Research Training Seminar - LAN00034M

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  • Department: Language and Linguistic Science
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23

Module aims

  • To provide students with the necessary training to enable them to complete an independent piece of research
  • To expose students to a range of linguistic research forms and methods, and allow them to reflect on that to enrich their own experience
  • To provide students wih a number of generic transferable skills important for the job market

Module learning outcomes

Successful students will:

  • be able to present written materials in linguistics according to the norms of the discipline
  • be able to search for sources in the library
  • be able to develop and present a research plan
  • develop an awareness of ethical issues and be able to plan a piece of research according to ethical guidelines and procedures
  • develop technical research skills specific to one or more areas of linguistics, e.g. use of databases, scripting in acoustic analysis, the use of syntactic formalisms, the qualitative analysis of conversational data, statistical analysis
  • be able to communicate their ideas and research to others in writing and verbally
  • understand appropriate referencing and the practice of academic integrity

Module content

The module is a combination of specific research training seminars in the Autumn, Spring and early Summer term, at which attendance is compulsory, a series of optional two-hour workshops spread over Spring and Summer terms from which students must choose two, and more informal participation in a number of departmental events (such as department research group seminars, department colloquia).

Topics covered in weekly research seminars include:

  • Academic integrity

  • Writing in linguistics

  • Library resources

  • Critical reading

  • Formulating hypotheses and developing research questions

  • Research design

  • Ethical issues

Topics covered in the specific research skills workshops for sub-disciplines of linguistics include use of corpora, scripting, statistics, qualitative methods.

In addition, students are asked to attend the Department’s weekly colloquium series.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 50
Online Exam - 24 hrs (Centrally scheduled) 50

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

Assessment task

Formative or Summative (F/S)

Timing of the assessment

Length of examination
(where appropriate)

Contribution to the module mark
(summative only)

Formative assignments for seminars

F

weekly or as appropriate

Review of research article (from a choice of set articles)

F

Au W6

750 words

Closed examination

S

Sp W1

1.5 hours

50%

Methodological critique

S

Sp W10

1000 words

50%

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 50
Online Exam - 24 hrs (Centrally scheduled) 50

Module feedback

Immediate oral feedback in seminars

Feedback on written work within four weeks of submission

Indicative reading

N/A


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.