THE PROJECT

We are going to try and follow the scientific method in designing and implementing our research project(s). It goes (according to Wikipedia and Will) as follows:

1. Observation: The collecting and organisation of empirical facts; Forming hypothesis.
2. Induction: Formulating hypothesis.
3. Deduction: Deducting consequences of hypothesis as testable predictions.
4. Testing: Testing the hypothesis with new empirical material.
5. Evaluation: Evaluating the outcome of testing

So far this term we have been spending our time in the observation stage; reading theory, discussing language and discourse on an abstract level, listening to experts hold forth on how humans have developed and refined language use as a social structure. Which means we are now arriving at the induction phase. As we transition from collecting information to formulating our hypotheses, you should read the last three pieces in our binders. These are a collection of linguistic research projects that could serve as inspiration, or at the very least as models for how we should proceed. 

For Tuesday's class, you should come with a relatively clear and focused hypothesis about some linguistic phenomenon we have studied in the past few weeks, as well as an outline of possible approaches as to how we might test and then evaluate your hypothesis.