Research Methods and Academic Writing kopsavilkums

Research Methods and Academic Writing

Research Methods and Academic Writing

Pētniecības metodes un studiju darbs

Autors	Mag. Phil. Rafael Martín Calvo
LAIS kods	SDSK3008
Pārbaudes forma	Ieskaite
Kredītpunkti (ECTS kredītpunkti)	2 KP (3 ECTS)
Kopējais kontaktnodarbību skaits	16
Lekciju skaits	16
Praktisko nodarbību skaits	--
Nepieciešamās zināšanas kursa uzsākšanai	--
Studiju programmas daļa	Nozares teorētiskais pamatkurss

Study course objectives

The aim of the course is to make available basic knowledge of scientific paradigms and academic research methods to students. The course offers understanding of research as a practice and provides knowledge through theoretical learning as well as practical assignments. The primary focus is on both quantitative and qualitative methods for collecting, processing, and presenting data in the field of translation studies. The course is orienting and preparatory for thesis studies on bachelor and master level. To this end, the course includes activities that develop the student’s ability to find information in scientific databases, to use different types of information in a critical and an appropriate manner, and to evaluate this information and the sources according to relevant scientific criteria. From a practical viewpoint, the aim is to develop the student’s ability to conduct a scientific study and elaborate a written report of it in a systematic manner.

Learning outcomes / Study results

After completing this course, students should be able to:
1. describe, discuss and apply basic concepts and methods for collection, process, presentation and interpretation of data;
2. understand the practical and theoretical relevance in formulating a research problem and its relationship to the design of methods;
3. relate ethically and responsibly to the collection and processing of data;
4. locate, evaluate and paraphrase appropriate supportive material for analytical, evaluative, or argumentative writing and use different types of information and data from different type of sources;
5. argue for the formulation of a particular problem (research question), scientific strategies and methodological choices, and write an academic report based on an autonomously conducted empirical study

EVALUATION OF LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Attendance and active participation: 20%. Attendance is mandatory.

In-class/homework assignments*: 60%.

Final examination / Course paper*: 20% The final research paper will have to be presented in written form and defended.

Study course outline

N.p.k.	Topics
	Defining ‘scientific research’. Organizing the research.
	Relevant research topics in Translation Studies.
	Research questions: types and characteristics
	Research design: data collection and analysis
	Qualitative, descriptive and experimental research
	Research parameters.
	Literature review: Primary and secondary sources. CRAAP test.
	Quantitative and qualitative research Literature review: Quoting, paraphrasing and summarizing
	Literature review: Citing sources and plagiarism.
	Structure of a research paper: Theoretical and practical sections
	Structure of a research paper: Introduction
	Structure of a research paper: Sources and references Collecting, arranging and analyzing data
	Structure of a research paper: Abstract and Conclusions
	Academic style: Arguments and evidence. Formatting aspects.
	Reviewing scientific research: Peer-review.
	Presentation of results. Defense of the research.

Studiju kursa kalendārais plāns

Nodarbības numurs	Tēmas nosaukums	Nodarbības veids (lekcijas, semināri, praktiskās nodarbības, laboratorijas darbi), akadēmisko stundu skaits
	Defining ‘scientific research’. Organizing the research. Assignment: Identifying general topics	Lekcija; 2. akad. st.
	Relevant research topics in Translation Studies. Assignment: Narrowing down the topic	Lekcija; 2. akad. st.
	Research questions: types and characteristics Assignment: From topic to title	Lekcija; 2. akad. st.
	Research design: data collection and analysis	Lekcija; 2. akad. st.
	Qualitative, descriptive and experimental research	Lekcija; 2. akad. st.
	Research parameters. Assignment: Research proposal.	Lekcija; 2. akad. st.
	Literature review: Primary and secondary sources. Assignment: Research outline.	Lekcija; 2. akad. st.
	Quantitative and qualitative research Literature review: Quoting, paraphrasing and summarizing	Lekcija; 2. akad. st.
	Literature review: Citing sources and plagiarism. Assignment: Bibliography draft	Lekcija; 2. akad. st.
	Structure of a research paper: Theoretical and practical sections Assignment: First draft (I)	Lekcija; 2. akad. st.
	Structure of a research paper: Introduction Assignment: First draft (II)	Lekcija; 2. akad. st.
	Structure of a research paper: Sources and references Collecting, arranging and analyzing data	Lekcija; 2. akad. st.
	Structure of a research paper: Abstract and Conclusions Assignment: Second draft	Lekcija; 2. akad. st.
	Academic style: Arguments and evidence. Formatting aspects.	Lekcija; 2. akad. st.
	Reviewing scientific research: Peer-review. Assignment: Final draft	Lekcija; 2. akad. st.
	Presentation of results. Defense of the research. Assignment: Course paper defence	Lekcija; 2. akad. st.

Nodarbības numurs

Tēmas nosaukums

Nodarbības veids (lekcijas, semināri, praktiskās nodarbības, laboratorijas darbi), akadēmisko stundu skaits

Defining ‘scientific research’. Organizing the research.

Assignment: Identifying general topics

Lekcija;

2. akad. st.

Relevant research topics in Translation Studies.

Assignment: Narrowing down the topic

Lekcija;

2. akad. st.

Research questions: types and characteristics

Assignment: From topic to title

Lekcija;

2. akad. st.

Research design: data collection and analysis

Lekcija;

2. akad. st.

Qualitative, descriptive and experimental research

Lekcija;

2. akad. st.

Research parameters.

Assignment: Research proposal.

Lekcija;

2. akad. st.

Literature review: Primary and secondary sources.

Assignment: Research outline.

Lekcija;

2. akad. st.

Quantitative and qualitative research

Literature review: Quoting, paraphrasing and summarizing

Lekcija;

2. akad. st.

Literature review: Citing sources and plagiarism.

Assignment: Bibliography draft

Lekcija;

2. akad. st.

Structure of a research paper: Theoretical and practical sections

Assignment: First draft (I)

Lekcija;

2. akad. st.

Structure of a research paper: Introduction

Assignment: First draft (II)

Lekcija;

2. akad. st.

Structure of a research paper: Sources and references

Collecting, arranging and analyzing data

Lekcija;

2. akad. st.

Structure of a research paper: Abstract and Conclusions

Assignment: Second draft

Lekcija;

2. akad. st.

Academic style: Arguments and evidence.

Formatting aspects.

Lekcija;

2. akad. st.

Reviewing scientific research: Peer-review.

Assignment: Final draft

Lekcija;

2. akad. st.

Presentation of results. Defense of the research.

Assignment: Course paper defence

Lekcija;

2. akad. st.

Basic literature

Bogucki, Ł. and Bogucki, L., 2013. Areas and methods of audiovisual translation research (Vol. 30). Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang.

Hatim, Basil (2001) Teaching and Researching Translation, London: Longman.

Henke, Preparing a term paper (2012)

Hermans, Theo (2002) Cross-cultural Transgressions. Research Methods in Translation Studies II: Historical and Ideological Issues, Manchester: St. Jerome.

Mellinger, C.D. and Hanson, T.A., 2016. Quantitative research methods in translation and interpreting studies. Taylor & Francis.

Latif, M.M.A., 2020. Translator and Interpreter Education Research: Areas, Methods and Trends. Springer Nature.

Saldanha, G., O’Brien, S. (2014). Research Methodologies in Translation Studies. London and New York, Routledge.

Supplementary literature

Profesionālā bakalaura darba rakstīšanas vadlīnijas (2018) VeA Tulkošanas studiju fakultātes.

Other sources of information

Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/

https://zinatnesvaloda.lv/

Docētājs: Martin Calvo Rafael