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Semester 1

Online Experiments for Language Scientists (LASC10115)

Subject

Language Sciences and Linguistics

College

CAHSS

Credits

20

Normal Year Taken

3

Delivery Session Year

2023/2024

Pre-requisites

Visiting students should have completed at least 3 Linguistics courses at grade B or above. We will only consider University/College level courses.

Course Summary

This is a practical course which will provide a rapid tour of online experimental methods in the language sciences. Each week we will cover a paper detailing a study using online methods, and work with code to implement a similar experiment. We will also look at the main platforms for reaching paid participants, e.g. MTurk and Prolific, and discuss some of the challenges around data quality and the ethics of recruiting participants through those platforms.

Course Description

This is a practical course which will provide a rapid tour of online experimental methods in the language sciences, covering a range of paradigms, from survey-like responses (e.g. as required for grammaticality judgments) through more standard psycholinguistic methods (button presses, mouse clicks) up to more ambitious and challenging techniques (e.g. audio or video recording, real-time interaction through text and/or streaming audio, iterated learning). Each week will be structured around one 1-hour lecture, and one 2-hour lab where students work on practical content with support from teaching staff. Lectures will summarise and discuss a paper (plus related literature) detailing a study using online methods, then in lab classes we will work with code (written in javascript using jspsych) to implement a similar experiment. We will also look at the main platforms for reaching paid participants, e.g. MTurk and Prolific, and discuss some of the challenges around data quality and the ethics of recruiting participants through those platforms. No prior experience of programming is required.

Assessment Information

Written Exam 0%, Coursework 100%, Practical Exam 0%

view the timetable and further details for this course

Disclaimer

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