Introduction to linguistic method

This course is an introduction to key approaches to the analysis of linguistic data. Students will learn about both qualitative and quantitative methods for analysing English language data. The methods will be applied and critically evaluated throughout the course, through actual data analysis in a workshop setting. Students will also gain some experience annotating or coding linguistic data based on a couple of sample models from the literature. Students will also explore ways of drawing on linguistic data from previous research, such as applying the scientific principle of replicating a study; this involves reviewing guidelines for academic integrity. The focus will be on using already available linguistic data, but there will also be some coverage of methods for collecting one’s own data, in ways which follow guidelines for research ethics. Students will also reflect on ways of presenting linguistic data in scholarly writing, such as a BA degree thesis.