LG575-7-AU web information for Distance students not attending the classes on Campus

Non-experimental Quantitative Research Methods for ELT/AL in term 1

You can see the full course description (which gives basic information on the syllabus, and further reading, amongst other things). Disregard parts that only relate to the Campus classroom  version.

The aim is to run it alongside the version delivered through classes, starting week 2….  (Remember teaching in the first term runs weeks 2-11 in the university week numbering system)

So if you are taking this, try to keep pace with the weekly tasks, starting today with Task1 by 10th Oct.

The tasks are more or less the same as those done in class and require you to email me some response which I will try to process quickly. The Distance version of the module will require more work from you doing tasks than the Campus classroom version, since you have to do every task more fully and submit it, but of course you will get less input since you won’t hear my inimitable classroom delivery and the collective discussion of the class!

I am in process of updating some of the later material.

** If you are taking the module for assessment, then for information on how we assess all assignments for this course see the assessment notes **

You can let me know what you think of it all at any time!

Task 1 for week 2 10th Oct  The main elements of a Classical Quantitative Research project, and its Write-up

Task 2 for week 3  Two alternative paradigms: Action Research and Ethnographic Research

Task 3 also for week 3

Task 4  week 4  Background/Literature Review and its Roles

Task 5  week 5  Research Questions and Hypotheses

If you are doing the assignments for assessment, the first part of this (worth 10%) is: Formulating research questions/hypotheses exercise. Complete by midday Friday of week 6. Approx. 1 page. Write up answers to the assignment, with a few comments (e.g. on alternative possibilities). Submit all assignments as per Dept booklet (electronically and hardcopy to secretaries).

Task 6  week 5-6 Method: Cases and Sampling

Later in the course we will be using the latest SPSS 16 computer program. If you don’t already have it at home on your computer, any registered Essex student can get a copy free from the university. You need to visit Lab C with a blank CD. There is one computer isolated from the rest in the room that is dedicated to writing software onto CDs. Use it to download a copy to take away and install on your own machine. If you are a distance student who cannot visit campus to do this, please contact me.

Task 7 week 6-7-8 Method: Instruments (Materials, Procedures and Data Analysis) and Ethics

Second assignment for assessment (worth 40%) is writing a critique of one or more instruments. Complete by midday Friday of week 9. Approx. 4 pages. **Request by email**.

Task 8 week 9 Method: Design

Task 9, 10, 11 week 9-10  Results: Overview, and One variable Graphs and Descriptive Statistics

Task 12  week 10-11  Results: Analysing and Interpreting Data obtained in the main two variable designs using SPSS (Graphs, Descriptive and Inferential Statistics)

Third assignment for assessment (worth 50%) Analysis and interpretation of results, using computer on data provided (Any two sets of data, involving different designs, from SPSS tasks 2 onwards). To be written as if it is the 'Results' section of a study you yourself have completed. Given out week 10. Complete by midday Friday of week 16. Approx 5 pages plus graphs.

 

PJS Oct 09