In this final module of the MA in Linguistics, you’ll design and carry out an independent, small-scale research project on language and linguistics, building on your chosen pathway and previous study in applied linguistics or artificial intelligence. You’ll be guided through the key stages of academic inquiry, from developing a well-defined research question and engaging critically with relevant literature to selecting appropriate research methodologies, collecting and analysing data, and writing a dissertation. Along the way, you’ll build confidence as an independent researcher, strengthening your ability to evaluate evidence, think critically and communicate complex ideas through extended academic writing.
What you will study
In this module, you’ll develop and carry out your own research project in applied linguistics or artificial intelligence, focusing on language and linguistics. The module is organised into four blocks that guide you step by step through the research process.
In Block 1, you’ll begin developing your project. You’ll learn key terms, concepts and theories relating to research in linguistics, reflect on how to frame your research problem, and consider what it means to be a researcher. You’ll also be guided to choose your area of study, engage with relevant literature and explore the conventions of academic writing.
Block 2 introduces the practicalities of designing your project. You’ll develop your research questions and select appropriate research methods. You’ll explore different approaches to data collection, such as interviews, observations and focus groups. You’ll consider the types of data these methods generate and evaluate which approaches are most appropriate for answering your research questions.
Block 3 focuses on how you’ll deal with your data once it’s collected. You’ll learn about good data management, including how to store, organise and prepare your data for analysis. You’ll explore different ways of analysing qualitative and quantitative data, whether collected from participants or drawn from naturally occurring sources, while reflecting on the ethical responsibilities involved in research.
In the final block, Block 4, you’ll focus on writing your dissertation and communicating your findings. You’ll explore ways to present and visualise quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods data clearly and effectively. Finally, you’ll reflect on the life of your research beyond the dissertation, considering how your findings might be shared more widely and how your work could contribute to positive change in the world.
Your research project can be shaped around topics and questions that interest you or connect with your professional or personal context. You might investigate areas such as language learning, intercultural communication, machine translation, language policy or the use of AI technologies in fields such as healthcare, business, education or the arts.
Depending on your focus, you may draw on a range of research approaches and analytical frameworks, including conversation analysis, discourse analysis, corpus linguistics, thematic analysis or evaluation methods from natural language processing. Your data might come from sources such as questionnaires, interviews, observations, interactional data, chatbot logs or user studies.
The taught study materials finish around the start of April each year, giving you time and space to develop, carry out and write up your research project as you complete your qualification.
You will learn
You’ll learn how to apply academic concepts and findings to contexts you are familiar with, demonstrating your understanding of complex ideas and your ability to use them to analyse real-world issues. You’ll learn how to use a variety of research approaches and methods, including interviews, surveys, field observations and document analysis, and explore how to visualise and discuss complex qualitative and quantitative findings. You’ll also be supported to produce a piece of extended writing in the form of a dissertation, developing your skills in structure, linguistic conventions and writing for an academic audience.
Vocational relevance
This module equips you to carry out small-scale research projects in professional or vocational contexts. You’ll learn how to identify questions or challenges arising in your workplace or field of interest and investigate them using systematic research approaches. You’ll gain experience collecting and analysing evidence and communicating your findings clearly to different audiences. By the end of the module, you’ll have developed a practical toolkit for investigating and understanding a range of professional challenges.
Entry
To study for this course, you must hold an undergraduate degree from a UK university or another recognised degree-awarding body, or a qualification at an equivalent level.
As this is the final module of the MA in Linguistics (F97), you must also have successfully completed the Stage 1 module Core concepts in linguistics (L804) (or its predecessor EE817, or an equivalent module from another university) and one of the Stage 2 modules: Applying linguistics in society (L805) (or its predecessor EE818) or Language, society, and artificial intelligence (L806).
Preparatory work
To help you prepare for this module, we recommend the following activities:
- study the OpenLearn courses Succeeding in postgraduate study and Becoming an ethical researcher. You may already have completed the first of these in preparation for earlier modules on your MA.
- review your notes from previous modules on the MA.
- carefully re-read the feedback you received on your Stage 1 and Stage 2 EMA proposals.