Research Methods

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Research Methods
Dr. Hameed Al-Zubeiry
Level 8
1441 – 1440
‫هــ‬

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Dr. Hameed Al-Zubeiry
Research Methods
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- Linguistics, Literature and Research
- Branches of Linguistics
- What is Research?
- Objectives of Language Research
- Research and Study
- Research Qualities (reliability and validity)
- How to establish reliability and validity
- Ethical Validity
Lecture 1

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Dr. Hameed Al-Zubeiry
Linguistics is the scientific study of language (Crystal 1980). It
studies how language is produced in the form of meaningful
structures to perform certain functions and how these structures are
comprehended.
Literature is the fine art of language that is revealed in the form of
poems, novels, drama, short stories , etc. for the purpose of
conveying our ideas and feelings about things to others.
deals with
Linguistics
Interactional functions of
language (spoken discourse)
Transactional functions of
language (Written discourse)
Research Methods
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Linguistics, Literature and
Research

4. Dr. Hameed Al-Zubeiry
Research Methods
Historical
Linguistics
Theoretical
Linguistics
Applied
Linguistics
Comparative
Linguistics
Computer
Linguistics
2nd lang.
acquisition
Psycho-
linguistics
Socio-
linguistics Lang.
Teaching
Theories
Lang.
Teaching
Methods
Contrastive
linguistics
Media
Branches of Linguistics
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5. What is Research?
Research Literally means to find out or discover something that exists.
Scientifically, research is an ORGANIZED and SYSTEMATIC process of FINDING
ANSWERS to QUESTIONS.
SYSTEMATIC: because there is a definite set of procedures and steps which you will
follow. There are certain things in the research process which are always
done in order to get the most accurate results.
ORGANIZED: in that there is a structure or method in going about doing research. It is a
planned procedure, not a spontaneous one. It is focused and limited to a
specific scope.
FINDING ANSWERS is the end of all research. Whether it is the answer to a hypothesis or
even a simple question, research is successful when we find answers.
Sometimes the answer is no, but it is still an answer.
QUESTIONS are central to research. If there is no question, then the answer is of no use.
Research is focused on relevant, useful, and important questions. Without a
question, research has no focus, drive, or purpose.
In Linguistics and literature, research aims at investigating language
phenomena (problems) for the sake of finding out facts and information
that explain and govern these phenomena
Dr. Hameed Al-Zubeiry
Research Methods
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6. Objectives of Language Research
Generally research aims at discovering facts or providing information
to prove certain points of view of a phenomena (problem)
Language research, however, aims at:
1- supporting existing linguistic theories or literary styles, and
2- discovering new language theories and literary models
Research and Study
Research
- Scientific and systematic
- Performed on a specific
phenomenon to support points of
view of a specific area.
- included in the meaning of study
Study
- Systematic or non-systematic
-Performed widely to gain
knowledge
- realized as a whole to part
Dr. Hameed Al-Zubeiry
Research Methods
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7. Dr. Hameed Al-Zubeiry
Research Qualities
1) Reliability: refers to whether the
research can produce the same
or very similar results if it is
conducted again under the same
or very similar conditions.
2) Validity: refers to whether the
research investigates the
problem that is purported to
investigate.
Two types of Reliability
1- Internal Reliability
• refers to the consistency of data collection,
analysis and results’ interpretation.
2- External Reliability
• refers to whether replicating a research by
other researchers produces similar results
to those obtained in the original study.
Two types of Validity
1- Internal Validity
• has to do with factors, which may directly
affect outcomes
2- External Validity
• is concerned with generalizability.
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8. How to establish reliability and validity
Nunan (1992) suggests the following questions:
-Internal reliability: Would an independent
researcher, on reanalyzing the data come to the same
conclusion?
- External reliability: Would an independent researcher,
on replicating the study, come to the same conclusion?
- Internal Validity: Is the research design such that we
can confidently claim that the outcomes are a result of the
experimental treatment?
- External Validity: Is the research design such that we
can generalize beyond the subjects under investigation to
wider population?
Dr. Hameed Al-Zubeiry
Research Methods
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9. Dr. Hameed Al-Zubeiry
Ethical Validity is another type of validity. It refers to the extent to which
the researcher keeps his personal impressions away from the research.
It is violated by one or more of the following actions:
-Reviewing and reporting literature that only supports the researchers’
views.
-Selecting participants with certain features to prove his hypotheses.
- Designing data collection instruments that bring desirable results.
-Analyzing data in a way that reflects his subjectivity.
- Reporting the results that only support his views and ignoring those of
counter evidence.
Ethical Validity
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