Bachelor 2021/2022

Research Methods in Linguistics and Intercultural Communication

Type: Elective course (Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication)

Area of studies: Linguistics

Delivered by: School of Foreign Languages

Where: School of Foreign Languages

When: 3 year, 3, 4 module

Mode of studies: offline

Open to: students of all HSE University campuses

Instructors: Смирнова Анна Георгиевна, Yulia Aleshina, Ekaterina Vladimirovna Chernetsova, Aida Rodomanchenko, Мошняга Елена Викторовна

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 30

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course is based upon the knowledge and skills acquired by the students in the course “English language” during their first and second years at the university and requires at least Intermediate level of English Intermediate (B2 / IELTS 6,5). There are no specific prerequisites concerning the students’ academic background in the field of methodology as the course starts with the basics of research skills. The research seminar is designed for third year students of NRU HSE who study at the bachelor degree programme “Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication”. The course is aimed at students of all majors and provides them with knowledge and academic skills needed for conducting research. It gives a comprehensive overview of: - different aspects of research theory and practice; - basic research methods for completing a successful research project; - methods of data analysis; - data collection techniques; - methods of sampling and measurement; - analytic frameworks and methods of contemporary linguistics.

Learning Objectives

• The research seminar is designed for third year students of NRU HSE who study at the bachelor degree programme “Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication”. The course is aimed at students of all majors and provides them with knowledge and academic skills needed for conducting research. It gives a comprehensive overview of: - different aspects of research theory and practice; - basic research methods for completing a successful research project; - methods of data analysis; - data collection techniques; - methods of sampling and measurement; - analytic frameworks and methods of contemporary linguistics; - basics of academic writing and genre awareness.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• know approaches to sampling; methods within qualitative and quantitative approaches to research; the tools of discourse/ cluster/ thematic/ interpretative analyses.
• know the analytical methods and frameworks of contemporary linguistics; the structure of a research report/ article; factors limiting research potential.
• analyse discourse; use sampling reasonably; the tools of discourse/ cluster/ thematic/ interpretative analyses.
• be able to collect data relevant to the research purpose and questions; collect numerical data and analyse them statistically; implement methods of contemporary linguistics.
• be able to select relevant literature for review.
• code qualitative data; use qualitative analytical methods (e.g. thematic analysis).
• describe own research, analyse and discuss the results
• know principles of ethical research; the essence of scientific methods; design experimental research
• know research approaches used in intercultual communication research
• know review literature on the topic; come up with relevant research questions; select appropriate research tools.
• know the analytical methods and frameworks of contemporary linguistics; the structure of a research report/ article; factors limiting research potential.
• know the basics of statistical analysis; approaches to sampling; methods within qualitative and quantitative approaches to research;
• know the principles of action research
• know the principles of ethnographic analysis
• know the role of theory in research; basic concepts such as dependent/ independent variables, reliability, validity, median, mode, etc.
• know types of approaches to research; the difference between Russian and Western traditions in research; set research aims.
• use appropraite methods in own research
• write a research report in English

Course Contents

• Different approaches to academic research
• Introduction to the course
• The role of theory in research.
• Sampling
• Planning and designing qualitative research
• Planning and designing qualitative research
• Qualitative analytic methods suitable for beginners
• Discourse analysis (DA)
• Analyzing qualitative data
• Designing quantitative research.
• Analytic frameworks and methods of contemporary linguistics
• Research writing. Writing a research report. Methods, Results, Discussion – describing your research, analysing and discussing your results.
• Research in intercultural communication. Ethnographic analysis.
• Research in language teaching. Action Research.

Assessment Elements

• Presentation
  each student in a pair with another student should prepare and give a presentation on one of the topics suggested by the teacher
• Test/Written response (SmartLMS)
  projected number – 3; weight – 10% each, the received mark is doubled
• Participation
  the instructor can assess students’ participation in discussions, homework completion, participation in groupwork; short quizzes and dictation tasks are also assessed; the average is calculated at the end of the semester
• Group project presentation
  students work in groups to plan, conduct, analyse and present a research project. May be done in the format of a video fragment
• Group project written report
  alongside the final presentation, each group submits a written research report following the structure: Introduction, Literature review, Methods, Results, Discussion

Interim Assessment

• 2021/2022 4th module
  0.25 * Group project written report + 0.25 * Participation + 0.25 * Presentation + 0.25 * Test/Written response (SmartLMS)

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Abbott, M., & McKinney, J. (2013). Understanding and Applying Research Design. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=531530
• Leavy, P. (2014). The Oxford Handbook of Qualitative Research. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=779511

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Brewerton, P., & Millward, L. (2001). Organizational Research Methods : A Guide for Students and Researchers. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=251199