Prospectus

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Methods in Child Language Research

Course
2017-2018

Admission requirements

None(a background in linguistics is advantageous).

Description

The course focuses on experimental methods, both behavioral and neurophysiological, used in the research area of child language perception and production. We will discuss in what ways different methods contribute to our knowledge of specific phenomena, like developing segmental representations and word learning. The class involves reading journal articles, using database tools (CHILDES, Phon), and – if class size permits – setting up and carrying out an experiment in the babylab.

Course objectives

Course objective 1: the student is familiar with an array of behavioral andneurophysiological methods that are used in the area of child language acquisition.

Course objective 2: the student knows what kind of information can – and cannot – be obtained through the use of a specific method.

Course objective 3: the student can understand and evaluate the methods section of scientific articles on experimental work on child language.

Course objective 4: the student can design a basic child language experiment.

Timetable

The timetable is available on the MA Linguistics website

Mode of instruction

Seminar

Course Load

  • time spent on attending lectures and seminars: 26 hours

  • time for studying the compulsory literature: 132 hours

  • time to prepare for the exam and/or write a paper (including reading/research): 120 hours

Assessment Method

Participation in class (posting on forum, participating in in-class discussions): 20%
Assignments (presentation, practical assignments, i.e. coding videos, making stimuli, etc.: 30%
Paper: 50%

Resit: students who fail the course may resit the written paper.

Blackboard

This course is supported by Blackboard.

Reading list

To be announced.

Registration

Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.

When registering, students that are registered for the specialisation that this course belongs to, or the Research Master, take priority. The deadline for registration is August 15. All other students should contact the “coordinator of studies”:http://hum.leiden.edu/linguistics/advice-linguistics/.

General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch

Contact

Andreea Geambasu

Please contact Student administration van Eyckhof for questions.