This study first aimed at describing how graduate students in language at AUB are introduced to research in one course by providing a detailed description of the course. Its second aim was to explore how these students react to and reflect on their experience in the research methods course. One possible limitation to this study is the fact that the instructor of the course is also the researcher who collected and analyzed data related to former students’ reactions. Nevertheless, it should be emphasized that the purpose of this study was not to evaluate the course but rather to describe it and explore students’ experiences and reactions to it.
The following conclusions can be made based on the findings of this study. First, the seven graduate students who took the course in Fall 2005 generally revealed positive reactions in terms of the aspects of the course they have found beneficial as well as ways in which the course has positively changed their views of research or their research practices. First-year students stated that the course reassured them that research is “doable,” motivated them to join professional organizations, and helped them to explore suitable thesis topics. Moreover, the students stated that the course helped them to understand how research is structured and familiarized them with practical and ethical considerations in research. In addition, similar to the majority of graduate students in Monahan’s (1994) survey set in the U.S.A. context, these students found the research methods course useful in helping them to evaluate and critique research and in encouraging them to read professional journals more often and more critically. The interviews also revealed that the students generally found all five class assignments beneficial, in line with Sanders’ (2001) suggestion that small and frequent class assignments that are linked to the final project may promote student learning and reduce student anxiety in the research methods course.
More specifically, the oral presentation assignment, in addition to the course content, was successful in helping students achieve the learning outcome stating that they should be able to distinguish between different types of research typically used in linguistic study and explain the advantages and limitations of each. The bibliography assignment helped students achieve the learning outcome stating that students should be able to compile and document a bibliography on a topic of their choice in the broad areas of linguistics and second language learning, and the proposal assignment allowed students to research a topic relevant to their area of interest and write a proposal for a linguistic research study, another major learning objective of the course. In addition, the critique and library assignments in addition to the class readings were effective in helping students achieve the two objectives of critically reading and evaluating research and identifying current issues and trends in linguistic research. Since they aim at helping readers critically read and evaluate research, the three required textbooks, which constitute the major readings for the course, also helped students achieve the learning objective of learning to critique research.
Nevertheless, some aspects of the course were not as successful in helping students achieve the learning objectives of the course. For instance, some students expressed negative reactions towards the statistics session, in line with the graduate students in Decorse’s (1997) study, who expressed a lack of confidence and even helplessness when it came to quantitative research and statistics. Moreover, in opposition to Conners and Franklin (1999), who explored the experiences of six female graduate students who participated in a qualitative research methods course in the United States and concluded that female graduate students may derive many benefits from relationships with peers, only one first-year student stated that it was beneficial to have both beginner and more advanced students in the course while the remaining three unexpectedly expressed a sense of unfairness and intimidation at having more advanced students in class.
Based on the findings, the following specific pedagogical recommendations regarding can be made for this course. First, although the course’s focus is not statistical analysis, a session reviewing basic statistical concepts in necessary for students to understand notions underlying quantitative research; therefore, the statistics session needs to be rethought in order to make it as beneficial as possible for the students. Secondly, in order to ensure all students’ needs are met, it is important to explore the students’ interests at the beginning of each semester and to choose as many sample research articles relevant to these interests as possible. Third, the few suggestions made by these students regarding the course assignments should be taken into consideration the next time the course is taught. Finally, the issue of whether only first-year, advanced, or both types of students register for this course needs to be further discussed, in light of both students’ experiences and views as well as the department’s needs and goals. As a preliminary recommendation, it seems advisable that incoming graduate students take the course in their first year in order to be better prepared for their remaining courses and their theses.
This study first aimed at describing how graduate students in language at AUB are introduced to research in one course by providing a detailed description of the course. Its second aim was to explore how these students react to and reflect on their experience in the research methods course. One possible limitation to this study is the fact that the instructor of the course is also the researcher who collected and analyzed data related to former students’ reactions. Nevertheless, it should be emphasized that the purpose of this study was not to evaluate the course but rather to describe it and explore students’ experiences and reactions to it.The following conclusions can be made based on the findings of this study. First, the seven graduate students who took the course in Fall 2005 generally revealed positive reactions in terms of the aspects of the course they have found beneficial as well as ways in which the course has positively changed their views of research or their research practices. First-year students stated that the course reassured them that research is “doable,” motivated them to join professional organizations, and helped them to explore suitable thesis topics. Moreover, the students stated that the course helped them to understand how research is structured and familiarized them with practical and ethical considerations in research. In addition, similar to the majority of graduate students in Monahan’s (1994) survey set in the U.S.A. context, these students found the research methods course useful in helping them to evaluate and critique research and in encouraging them to read professional journals more often and more critically. The interviews also revealed that the students generally found all five class assignments beneficial, in line with Sanders’ (2001) suggestion that small and frequent class assignments that are linked to the final project may promote student learning and reduce student anxiety in the research methods course.More specifically, the oral presentation assignment, in addition to the course content, was successful in helping students achieve the learning outcome stating that they should be able to distinguish between different types of research typically used in linguistic study and explain the advantages and limitations of each. The bibliography assignment helped students achieve the learning outcome stating that students should be able to compile and document a bibliography on a topic of their choice in the broad areas of linguistics and second language learning, and the proposal assignment allowed students to research a topic relevant to their area of interest and write a proposal for a linguistic research study, another major learning objective of the course. In addition, the critique and library assignments in addition to the class readings were effective in helping students achieve the two objectives of critically reading and evaluating research and identifying current issues and trends in linguistic research. Since they aim at helping readers critically read and evaluate research, the three required textbooks, which constitute the major readings for the course, also helped students achieve the learning objective of learning to critique research.Nevertheless, some aspects of the course were not as successful in helping students achieve the learning objectives of the course. For instance, some students expressed negative reactions towards the statistics session, in line with the graduate students in Decorse’s (1997) study, who expressed a lack of confidence and even helplessness when it came to quantitative research and statistics. Moreover, in opposition to Conners and Franklin (1999), who explored the experiences of six female graduate students who participated in a qualitative research methods course in the United States and concluded that female graduate students may derive many benefits from relationships with peers, only one first-year student stated that it was beneficial to have both beginner and more advanced students in the course while the remaining three unexpectedly expressed a sense of unfairness and intimidation at having more advanced students in class.Based on the findings, the following specific pedagogical recommendations regarding can be made for this course. First, although the course’s focus is not statistical analysis, a session reviewing basic statistical concepts in necessary for students to understand notions underlying quantitative research; therefore, the statistics session needs to be rethought in order to make it as beneficial as possible for the students. Secondly, in order to ensure all students’ needs are met, it is important to explore the students’ interests at the beginning of each semester and to choose as many sample research articles relevant to these interests as possible. Third, the few suggestions made by these students regarding the course assignments should be taken into consideration the next time the course is taught. Finally, the issue of whether only first-year, advanced, or both types of students register for this course needs to be further discussed, in light of both students’ experiences and views as well as the department’s needs and goals. As a preliminary recommendation, it seems advisable that incoming graduate students take the course in their first year in order to be better prepared for their remaining courses and their theses.
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