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ET215-15 Quantitative Research Methods

Department
Applied Linguistics
Level
Undergraduate Level 2
Module leader
Clay Beckner
Credit value
15
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
60% coursework, 40% exam
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry
Introductory description

Quantitative research is an essential aspect of the social sciences and includes sampling methods and research designs such as experiments and quasi-experiments. Moreover, this module will help you to be confident in producing descriptive statistics and inferential statistical analyses like t-tests and correlations. These skills will be very useful not only for your academic studies, but also in your subsequent career.

Module web page

Module aims

This module aims to introduce selected data collection methods and analytical options relevant to language, culture and communication. This will further include the development of relevant skills in data collection and analysis as well as to engage critically with current issues in researching language, culture and communication using quantitative methods. Thus, this module will provide a solid foundation in relevant research skills and methods to allow students to undertake an in-depth study of issues relating to intercultural linguistics.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The nature of quantitative research
Major principles of conducting quantitative research, strengths and weaknesses, etc.
Purpose of quantitative studies (descriptive, explorative, evaluative, predictive,
explanatory, etc.)
Systematically designing quantitative research designs
The quantitative research process: An overview
Types of variables (nominal, ordinal, interval)
From research question to hypothesis
Overview and examples of basic quantitative research designs
Experimental designs, quasi-experimental/ ex-post facto designs, etc
Data collection procedures
Sampling techniques (e.g. random sampling, etc.)
Descriptive statistics: Theory and practice
Definition and use
Types of descriptive statistics (mean, median, quartiles, standard deviation, etc.)
Correlation analysis
Definition and use
Types of correlations (parametric, non-parametric, partial correlations, etc.)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Identify different approaches to quantitative research and paradigmatic orientations underlying this methodological approach to analyse social phenomenaCritically evaluate data collection procedures and their impact on quantitative research designsDescribe and present relevant procedures for analysing data quantitativelyCritically assess research designs applied in published work
Indicative reading list

Agresti, A. & Finlay, B. (2008). Statistical methods for the social sciences (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Creswell, J. W. (1998). Qualitative Inquiry And Research Design: Choosing Among Five Traditions. Sage Publications, London, New Delhi

Black, T.R. (1999). Doing quantitative research in the social sciences: An integrated approach to research design, measurement and statistics. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Research element

Students will learn how to think critically about quantitative research methods, and will explore how to apply these methods in Applied Linguistics.

Interdisciplinary

This module integrates topics from Applied Linguistics, statistics and mathematics and illustrates principles using examples from across the social sciences, humanities and education.

Subject specific skills

Apply proper quantitative procedures in context and understand their limitations
Work and communicate effectively in multicultural teams
Systematically plan small-scale quantitative research studies
Know and properly apply key terminology related to quantitative research designs
Formulate precisely focused, answerable research questions and hypotheses
Identify relationships between different approaches of quantitative enquiries and understand their limitations and application in context
Perform basic statistical procedures and interpret them properly

Transferable skills

Systematically use analytical tools to find answers to defined research questions and hypotheses
Communicate and work effectively in teams
Present quantitative findings succinctly but precisely using key terminology

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 9 sessions of 2 hours (12%)
Seminars 9 sessions of 1 hour (6%)
Other activity 4 hours (3%)
Private study 119 hours (79%)
Total 150 hours
Private study description

Reading subject materials
Homework tasks
Assignments
Revision

Other activity description

Revision classes

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group D1
Weighting Study time
2000 word assignment 60%
Online Examination 40%

~Platforms - AEP


  • Online examination: No Answerbook required
Feedback on assessment

Written feedback will be provided on one of the Centre's standard feedback sheets, designed to conform to Faculty regulations. Where appropriate, additional feedback may be provided via personal meetings during office hours and individual arrangements.

Past exam papers for ET215

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • Year 3 of UETA-X3Q5 Undergraduate Language, Culture and Communication
  • Year 4 of UETA-X3Q8 Undergraduate Language, Culture and Communication (with Intercalated Year)
  • Year 3 of UETA-Q310 in English Language and Linguistics
  • Year 4 of UETA-Q311 in English Language and Linguistics (with Intercalated year)

This module is Core optional for:

  • Year 2 of UETA-Q1A1 Undergraduate Linguistics with French (with Intercalated Year)
  • Year 2 of UETA-Q1R2 Undergraduate Linguistics with German
  • Year 2 of UETA-Q1A8 Undergraduate Linguistics with Japanese (with Intercalated Year)
  • Year 2 of UETA-Q1A4 Undergraduate Linguistics with Spanish (with Intercalated Year)
  • Year 3 of ULNA-R9QB Undergraduate Modern Languages with Linguistics (3 year)

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 4 of ULNA-R1Q3 Undergraduate French and Linguistics
  • Year 2 of UETA-Q1A7 Undergraduate Linguistics with Chinese (with Intercalated Year)
  • UETA-Q1R1 Undergraduate Linguistics with French
    • Year 2 of Q1R1 Linguistics with French
    • Year 3 of Q1R1 Linguistics with French
  • Year 3 of UETA-Q1A1 Undergraduate Linguistics with French (with Intercalated Year)
  • UETA-Q1A2 Undergraduate Linguistics with German (with Intercalated Year)
    • Year 2 of Q1A2 Linguistics with German (with Intercalated Year)
    • Year 4 of Q1A2 Linguistics with German (with Intercalated Year)
  • Year 3 of UETA-Q1T2 Undergraduate Linguistics with Japanese
  • Year 3 of UETA-Q1A8 Undergraduate Linguistics with Japanese (with Intercalated Year)
  • Year 3 of UETA-Q1R5 Undergraduate Linguistics with Portuguese
  • Year 2 of UETA-Q1A6 Undergraduate Linguistics with Russian (with Intercalated Year)
  • Year 3 of UETA-Q1R4 Undergraduate Linguistics with Spanish
  • UETA-Q1A4 Undergraduate Linguistics with Spanish (with Intercalated Year)
    • Year 3 of Q1A4 Linguistics with Spanish (with Intercalated Year)
    • Year 4 of Q1A4 Linguistics with Spanish (with Intercalated Year)

This module is Core option list A for:

  • Year 4 of ULNA-R9Q2 Undergraduate Modern Languages with Linguistics

This module is Core option list B for:

  • Year 4 of ULNA-R9Q1 Undergraduate Modern Languages and Linguistics

This module is Core option list C for:

  • Year 4 of ULNA-R4Q1 Undergraduate Hispanic Studies and Linguistics

This module is Option list A for:

  • Year 4 of ULNA-R9Q1 Undergraduate Modern Languages and Linguistics

This module is Option list D for:

  • Year 4 of ULNA-R2Q3 Undergraduate German and Linguistics