Investigation Methodology

The methodology section of your language investigation is where you explain how you collected your data and why you chose those methods. A strong methodology demonstrates that you have thought carefully about your approach, considered alternatives, and anticipated potential problems. It also shows the examiner that your data collection was systematic rather than haphazard. This lesson covers the main data collection methods available to you, ethical considerations, and how to select the most appropriate methodology for your topic.

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Data Collection Methods

There are several main methods of data collection used in language investigation. Each has strengths and limitations, and your choice of method should be determined by your research question.

1. Recording and Transcription

Recording spoken language and transcribing it is one of the most common methods for language investigations. It is particularly suited to topics involving:

• Spoken interaction (conversation analysis, classroom discourse, interviews)
• Child language acquisition
• Accent and dialect features
• Language and power in spoken contexts