RESEARCH METHODS FOR LANGUAGE STUDIES

(BBI 4401)
Semester 1, 2015-16

WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Lecturer: Dr. Vahid Nimehchisalem
Email: vahid@upm.edu.my
Tel: 03-8946 8721 (Office, Room A-212)
Wee
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1

Lectures

Reading

Notes

Introduction to language research

Why research is important

Chapter 1; pp. 1518

PowerPoint
Slides

Steps in conducting

research
Skills needed for research

Why research is important

Steps in conducting
research

Quantitative approach
Characteristics

Chapter 2, pp. 2435

Qualitative approach

Chapter 2, pp. 3547

Choosing between
quantitative and
qualitative

Quality Criteria
Validity
Reliability

Chapter 3, pp. 4863

Research Ethics
Issues
Researcher integrity
Research questions
Research hypotheses

Chapter 3, pp. 6375

Research design

Chapter 4, pp. 7891

Longitudinal research
Cross-sectional

Test 1 (10%)

research

Reviewing the literature

What is a literature
review
Steps in conducting a

Chapter 12, pp.

281-282; Chapter
13, p. 295
1

Test 2 (Midsemester exam,

10%)

Wee
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Lectures

Reading

Notes

Deadline to
submit
Assignment 1
(30%)

literature review
Locating literature

Quantitative data collection

Sampling
Types of data
Instruments used to
collect data

Chapter 5, pp. 95123

Qualitative data collection

Sampling
Types of data
Instruments used to
collect data

Chapter 6, pp.
124-162

10

Qualitative data
Principles
Organizing data
Coding

Chapter 10, pp.

242-264

11

Quantitative data
Steps to analyze data
SPSS (data entry,
coding, transforming,
and editing)
Statistical concepts

Chapter 9, pp.
197-213

12

Quantitative data
Descriptive analysis
Inferential analysis
Statistical analysis,
interpretation and
report
- Mean and SD
- T-test
- ANOVA

Chapter 9, pp.
213-222

13

Quantitative data
Statistical analysis,
interpretation and
report
- Pearson
- Chi-square

Chapter 9, pp.
223-227, 228-230

Deadline to
submit
Assignment 2
(20%)

Wee
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14

Lectures

Reading

Notes

Review
Final Exam (30%)

Book: Zoltn Drnyei (2007). Research Methods in Applied Linguistics.

Oxford: OUP.
Marking scheme:
Assignment 1: 30 points
Assignment 2: 25 points
Test 1: 10 points
Test 2: (Mid-semester exam) 10 points
Final exam: 30 points

WRITING RESEARCH REPORTS

(BBI 3417)
Semester 2, 2014-15

ASSIGNMENT 1: Research Proposal (30%)

Instructions:
Think of a topic related to your area of study. Narrow down the topic until
it is approved by your lecturer by week 3. Present the following
information in writing:
1. Research topic
2. Background of the study (setting)
3. Statement of the problem
4. Objectives (a minimum of two)
5. Research questions (a minimum of two)
6. Theoretical perspectives/underpinnings (a minimum of one related
theory)
7. Significance of the study (two points)
8. Literature review (a minimum of three related studies)
9. Method (sample size and sampling method, instrument(s), research
procedure)
Marking scheme:
Diligence and meeting the deadline: 5 points
Language accuracy: 5 points
Quality: 10 points
Thoroughness: 10 points
Deadline:
Week 7

WRITING RESEARCH REPORTS

(BBI 3417)
Semester 2, 2014-15

ASSIGNMENT 2: Research Proposal (30%)

Instructions:
Based on the proposal (assignment 1), conduct an interview or survey to
collect data. After data collection, process the data; that is, organize,
interpret and illustrate them. Document your data using related literature.
Write and submit drafts of your research report youre your lecturers
feedback) before submission of the final draft in week 13. Your final report
must include the following sections:
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Literature review
Chapter 3: Method
Chapter 4: Results and discussion
Report according to your research questions
Use tables/graphs to illustrate your findings, following the
conventions you have learned
Chapter 5: Conclusion and recommendations
Summarize the main findings
Draw conclusions based on your findings
State the limitations
Provide recommendations for future research
References (following APA style)
Marking scheme:
Diligence and meeting the deadline: 5 points
Language accuracy: 5 points
Quality: 10 points
Thoroughness: 10 points
Deadline:
Week 13