Prospectus

nl en

Experimental Methods I: Design & Techniques

Course
2019-2020

Admission requirements

Successful completion of the course Psycholinguistics.

Description

Experimental Methods I: Design & Techniques and Experimental Methods II: Practicals & Projects together form one course. Over the entire two-semester course, students will receive a comprehensive and practical introduction to the research methods used in the LUCL Labs and have a chance to implement one of these techniques in an independent research project.

The course will link coherently to other elements of the BA Taal & Cognitie – for example, in Experimental Methods I (semester 1 of year two) the students learn how the theory they have already learned relates to experimental work in the labs; while in Experimental Methods II (semester 1 of year three) they will analyse their own data using skills gained in the course Statistics for linguists in semester 2 of year two.

Experimental Methods I consists of two learning units: “Experiment design & preparation” and “Software and hardware in the labs”. In these two units, students gain practical knowledge of the first steps in individually designing, carrying out, analysing, and presenting a psycholinguistic experiment.

Course objectives

  • Gaining a broad knowledge of psycholinguistic research methods and techniques, including lab hardware and software (Excel, Qualtrics and E-Prime)

  • Understanding the practical steps involved in conceptualising and preparing a psycholinguistic experiment

Timetable

Linguistics (BA)

Mode of instruction

Seminars; independent study and practical assignments.

Course Load

Total course load = 140 hours

  • Seminars: 28

  • Study of compulsory readings: 28

  • Assignments: 40

  • Preparation for assessments: 40

  • Exams: 4

Assessment method

To successfully finish the course students are required to upload six completed practical assignments on Blackboard (during the semester), including a research proposal as the final assignment/exam. For two of the six assignments, students must also hand in a peer review.

The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average.

Exam review

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Weighting

Each assignment counts for 15% of the final grade; each review counts for 5%.

Resit

Students may resit maximally one of the assessments, provided that they have adequately attended the seminars (>80%).

Blackboard

Blackboard will be used for:

  • to inform students during the course, to offer study materials, and to submit and assess homework assignments.

Reading list

The course will follow the reader, available for download here

A syllabus and suplementary material will be made available via Blackboard.

Registration

Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.

General information about uSis is available on this website

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Registration Contractonderwijs

Contact

lucl-labs@hum.leidenuniv.nl

Education Administration Office van Wijkplaats

E-mail address Education Administration Office van Wijkplaats: osz-oa-wijkplaats@hum.leidenuniv.nl

Coordinator of Studies

Remarks

Attendance in all classes and active participation is required.