English 458: Topics in Linguistics
Topic: Research Methods
The purpose of this class is to introduce a wide range of research methods in linguistics (many of which can be used in a wide range of social science and educational areas as well as linguistics). At the end of this class, a student should be able to
read a wide of linguistic research critically;
conduct research using multiple methods; and
draw up an effective research plan to address a particular question or hypothesis.
Grading
Summaries: 4 summaries of papers reporting primary research x 5% each = 20%
Short assignments and group projects: 3 sets x 20% = 60%
Proposal for primary research project (pilot study) and presentation = 20%
Course Materials
The materials for this class will be made available to you via a Dropbox folder which you will be invited into. You will need a free Dropbox account to access the papers.
Schedule
Weeks 1-2
January 8/10 January 15/17
Weeks: 3-6 January 22/24
January 29/31
February 5/7
February 12/14
Lynn Gordon Field methods: How can you find out about an undocumented language?
Weeks 7-9 February 19/21 February 26/28 March 5/7 Nancy Bell Qualitative Research
Weeks 10-14 March 19/21 March 26/28 April 2/4 April 9/11 April 16/18
Introduction: What is linguistics? What is research (as opposed to other kinds of scholarship)? How can we find out about language structure and use?
Readings: Labov, W. (1972) “The Social Stratification of [r] in New York City DepaNancy Bell Qualitative Research
Weeks 10-14 reference, clause order, and interclausal relationships in Maricopa"
Michaels, S. (1981) “Sharing time: Children’s narrative styles and differential access to literacy”
Carden, G. and Dieterich, T. G. (1980) “Introspection, Observation, and Experiment: An Example Where Experiment Pays Off”
Summary Assignment: 1-2 page summary of the Gordon paper, the Michaels paper or the Carden & Dieterich paper listed above
Reading for Summary and Assessment: Gordon, L (1986) "The development of evidentials in Maricopa"
Group Project: Collected field notes
Short Descriptive Paper: Description of some aspect of the language we do field work on
Summary Assignment: 1-2 page summary of the reading
Guy Carden Experimental/quantitative methods: Experimental and corpus studies in syntax and semantics
Week 10
Introduction to coreference; Standard model data and analysis - command; good backwards and blocked forwards coreference.
Reading for Week 10: Coreference textbook selections; second pass on
Carden, G., and T. G. Dieterich (1981) "Introspection, Observation, and Experiment: An Example Where Experiment Pays Off"
Assignment (Handed out previous Thursday, due Tuesday of Week 9): Report personal introspections on coref data questionnaire, write short summary giving structural generalizations about student's introspections.
Week 11
Coreference, continued. Reliability and validity of introspective data
Readings:
Labov, William. 1972. "The Study of Language in is Social Context" p183-205 (rest of paper optional)
Ringen, J. 1975. "Linguistic Facts: A Study of the Empirical Scientific Status of Transformational Generative Grammars." (41p)
Assignment: Open-ended interviews on short list of coref sentences (due Tuesday week 12)
Continuing assignment: Find live examples of backwards anaphora in texts or radio/TV, given hints about good places to look (First installment due with Assignment 2; continuing assignment for whole unit: Find us neat examples.)
Week 12
(a) Technical analysis: A crucial example for the definition of "command" A typical (hidden) data controversy.
(b) Reliability and validity of introspective data -- how to get good data. Instrument/interview designs.
Readings: Langacker, Reinhart: Sample coref papers -- formal analysis + assumed "right" data.
Assignment: Construct Carden & Dieterich type mini-discourses to test the crucial structural contrasts.
Week 13
(a) Use student discourses to contruct extended version of Carden-Dieterich test instrument.
(b) Corpus data in syntax; hand vs automated searches. Corpus coreference data.
Reading: Carden, G. 1980. "Backwards anaphora in discourse context"
Samples of other corpus studies.
Assignment: Test new written instrument; written instrument plus interviewing subjects after they finish the questionnaire. Turn in final list from continuing live data collection.
Week 14
Evaluate data from assignment 4. Apply experimental data + corpus data to command issue. Bonus: Look for speech/writing asymmetries.
Week 15 April 23/25
Student Presentations: Each student will be required to give a 20-30 minute presentation on his/her research proposals. The research proposal will be due by 5 pm on Monday, 29 April.
Disability Policy
Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a documented disability. If you have a disability and need accommodations to fully participate in this class, please either visit or call the Access Center (Washington Building 217; 509-335-3417) to schedule an appointment with an Access Advisor. All accommodations MUST be approved through the Access Center.
Academic Integrity
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You are expected to know and adhere to the rules on academic honesty as outlined in the WSU student handbook. If you violate those rules, depending on the degree of seriousness of your breach of academic integrity, you may fail the assignment or the class as a whole and you may be reported to the Office of Student Conduct for further discipline. Intentional plagiarism or fabrication will mean that you will fail the class and will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct.
Emergencies
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