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LN5047: QUALITATIVE APPROACHES TO LINGUISTIC RESEARCH (2024-2025)

Last modified: 4 Days, 9 Hours, 21 Minutes ago


Course Overview

This course introduces students to a variety of qualitative approaches used in Linguistics, exploring their advantages and limitations through critical examination of existing work in the field. Methods covered include interviews, surveys, participant observation, case studies, focus groups, and corpus analysis. Particular attention is given to research planning and process, with consideration of how research questions are formulated and projects designed to address them. Throughout the course students will focus on issues of reliability, representativeness, and validity in qualitative linguistic research, while developing and reflecting on their own research interests and practice.

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Session First Sub Session Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Elspeth Edelstein

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Postgraduate Programme

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This course introduces students to a variety of qualitative approaches used in Linguistics, exploring their advantages and limitations through critical examination of existing work in the field. Methods covered include interviews, surveys, participant observation, case studies, focus groups, and corpus analysis. Particular attention is given to research planning and process, with consideration of how research questions are formulated and projects designed to address them. Throughout the course students will focus on issues of reliability, representativeness, and validity in qualitative linguistic research, while developing and reflecting on their own research interests and practice.

Students will participate in weekly seminars looking at contemporary linguistic research, and complete several short reflective assignments during the course. In addition to a final written piece, students will give a presentation at the end of the course outlining an initial proposal for their final dissertation project for the Masters of Research in Linguistics.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st half-session courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

Journal Entries

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks 9,11,13,15 Feedback Weeks 10,12,14,16

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Feedback

Students to complete four journal entries of 500 words each addressing methods discussed in seminars.

Written feedback to be provided by course tutors through online learning platform.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseAnalyse qualitative language data using established frameworks in linguistic research
ReflectionUnderstandDevelop an understanding of their own research interests and practice within the context of the field of Linguistics

Oral Presentation: Individual

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 30
Assessment Weeks 17,18 Feedback Weeks 18,19

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Feedback

15-20 minutes per student. Written and oral feedback to be provided by course tutors.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseAnalyse qualitative language data using established frameworks in linguistic research
ProceduralApplyFormulate research questions in Linguistics and select appropriate qualitative methods to address them
ReflectionUnderstandDevelop an understanding of their own research interests and practice within the context of the field of Linguistics

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks 19 Feedback Weeks 22

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Feedback

Written feedback to be provided by course tutors through online learning platform.

Word Count 3500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseAnalyse qualitative language data using established frameworks in linguistic research
ReflectionUnderstandDevelop an understanding of their own research interests and practice within the context of the field of Linguistics

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Written feedback to be provided by course tutors.

Word Count 5000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ReflectionUnderstandDevelop an understanding of their own research interests and practice within the context of the field of Linguistics
ProceduralApplyFormulate research questions in Linguistics and select appropriate qualitative methods to address them
ConceptualAnalyseAnalyse qualitative language data using established frameworks in linguistic research
ConceptualEvaluateEvaluate dominant qualitative approaches in linguistic research and be able to assess their advantages and limitations

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