{"id":1929,"date":"2022-06-27T14:36:11","date_gmt":"2022-06-27T06:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/caes.hku.hk\/?page_id=1929"},"modified":"2026-06-23T11:07:49","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T03:07:49","slug":"maal6037","status":"publish","type":"courses","link":"https:\/\/caes.hku.hk\/maal\/courses\/maal6037\/","title":{"rendered":"MAAL6037 Advanced Research Methods"},"content":{"rendered":"

Course teacher
\n<\/strong>Dr.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Ken Lau<\/span><\/b>
\n<\/span>Email:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>lauken@hku.hk<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Special note:<\/span>
\nWhile this course remains as an elective module for all students, the final assignment centres around a dissertation proposal. You are discouraged from taking the course if you do not plan to take the dissertation as your capstone option.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n

This course consists of a series of interactive workshops which will focus on the skills needed to enter into the research phase leading to the production of a dissertation. By the end of the workshops, candidates will be able to design and carry out their own research plan. As a result, they will be ready to prepare their dissertation research proposals.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Aims<\/strong><\/p>\n

The course provides a series of steps towards producing a research design and a workable plan for its execution. Participants will be able to build on their knowledge of research methods gained in Introduction to Research Methods and develop skills for justifying your choice of methods for particular research goals. This course will prepare participants for designing their own dissertation research project.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Learning Outcomes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. design a research project;<\/li>\n
  2. make a plan for completing a research project; and<\/li>\n
  3. justify the chosen methodology for a research project.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Assessment<\/strong><\/p>\n

    A dissertation proposal: participants will explain their plan for a piece of research within the field of Applied Linguistics that they would be able to carry out from initiation to completion of a written dissertation within 8 months.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    GenAI Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Generative AI tools may be used only for grammar\/style checking or as a critical interlocutor (e.g. brainstorming ideas). No AI-generated text may appear in the final submission except short quoted phrases (clearly placed in quotation marks, cited, and fully documented in the GenAI Use Declaration).<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Key References<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • D\u00f6rnyei, Z. (2007). Research methods in Applied Linguistics<\/em>. Oxford: OUP.<\/li>\n
    • Paltridge, B. & Phakiti, A. (Eds.) (2013). Continuum companion to research methods in applied linguistics<\/em>. Bloomsbury.<\/li>\n
    • Richards, K., Ross, S. & Seedhouse, P. (2012). Research methods for applied language studies<\/em>. Routledge.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Review of readings assigned for MAAL6028 Introduction to Research Methods <\/em>is also recommended.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Schedule (Semester 1)<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Session 1: Developing a research idea<\/p>\n

      Session 2: Selecting a methodology<\/p>\n

      Session 3: Thinking about data<\/p>\n

      Session 4: Formulating a research plan & learning from former MAAL dissertation studies<\/p>\n

      Session 5: Dissertation proposal writing workshop for preparation of final assessment (by David Gardner) (mandatory<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

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