Methodology of Research

Methodology of Research for Translation Studies

Course Description:

This course introduces first-year translation students to the fundamental principles of research methodology. It covers both qualitative and quantitative research methods, with a particular focus on how these methods can be applied in translation studies. The course will equip students with essential research skills that they can apply to both academic and professional translation projects.

Course Objectives:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Understand the basic principles of research methodology.

2. Identify and apply different research methods to translation-related topics.

3. Develop research questions and hypotheses specific to translation studies.

4. Conduct a literature review on translation-related topics.

5. Analyze translation phenomena using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

6. Understand ethical considerations in research, especially in translation.

7. Write and present research findings effectively.

Course Structure:

Week 1: Introduction to Research Methodology

• Lecture:

  • Definition of research in academia.

  • The importance of research in translation studies.

  • Types of research: Basic vs. applied research, qualitative vs. quantitative.

  • The research cycle: Problem identification, hypothesis formation, literature review, data collection, analysis, and reporting.

  • Ethical guidelines in research.

• Reading:

  • Chapter 1: "Introduction to Research Methods" (Textbook)

  • Article: “What is Translation Research?” (Journal of Translation Studies)

• Activity:

  • Class discussion: What are some research questions in translation you find interesting?

Week 2: Developing Research Questions and Hypotheses

• Lecture:

  • How to formulate research questions.

  • The significance of a hypothesis in research.

  • Example: Translating cultural terms, challenges in machine translation, or evaluating translator competence.

• Reading:

  • Chapter 2: "Formulating Research Questions" (Textbook)

• Activity:

  • Group activity: Formulate a research question related to a specific translation issue (e.g., "How does cultural context affect the accuracy of translation in literary texts?").

• Assignment:

  • Submit a short essay outlining your research question and why it is relevant to translation studies.

Week 3: Literature Review in Translation Studies

• Lecture:

  • What is a literature review?

  • How to conduct a literature review: Searching academic databases, identifying key themes, and critically evaluating sources.

  • Example: Reviewing literature on translation techniques or theories.

• Reading:

  • Chapter 3: "Conducting a Literature Review" (Textbook)

  • Article: "The Evolution of Translation Theories" (Translation Studies Journal)

• Activity:

  • Research Exercise: Find at least three scholarly articles related to your research question and prepare a brief summary of each.

• Assignment:

  • Create an annotated bibliography of the sources you found for your research question.

Week 4: Qualitative Research Methods in Translation

• Lecture:

  • Introduction to qualitative research methods: Interviews, case studies, discourse analysis.

  • How to design and conduct interviews with translators or clients.

  • Using case studies in translation research (e.g., comparing translations of the same text).

• Reading:

  • Chapter 4: "Qualitative Research Methods" (Textbook)

• Activity:

  • Role-play: Simulate an interview with a translator discussing translation choices and challenges.

• Assignment:

  • Develop a qualitative research proposal: Describe your research question, proposed methodology, and data collection methods.

Week 5: Quantitative Research Methods in Translation

• Lecture:

  • Introduction to quantitative research methods: Surveys, statistical analysis, corpus-based research.

  • Collecting data from a survey of translators or using translation corpora.

  • Basic statistical tools for analyzing translation data.

• Reading:

  • Chapter 5: "Quantitative Research Methods" (Textbook)

  • Article: "Corpus-based Approaches to Translation" (Translation Research Journal)

• Activity:

  • Survey Design: Create a simple survey for translators or translation students to collect data on a specific translation issue (e.g., frequency of translation errors).

• Assignment:

  • Submit a research proposal incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Week 6: Data Analysis and Interpretation

• Lecture:

  • Analyzing qualitative data: Thematic analysis, coding, and interpretation.

  • Analyzing quantitative data: Basic statistical analysis (mean, median, mode, etc.).

  • Tools for data analysis: NVivo (qualitative), SPSS (quantitative).

• Reading:

  • Chapter 6: "Analyzing Data in Translation Research" (Textbook)

• Activity:

  • Data analysis exercise: Analyze a small dataset (e.g., survey results on translation errors).

• Assignment:

  • Analyze a small dataset (either qualitative or quantitative) and present your findings.

Week 7: Ethical Considerations in Translation Research

• Lecture:

  • Ethical issues in conducting research: Consent, privacy, and intellectual property.

  • Ethical concerns in translation: Representation, accuracy, and translator bias.

• Reading:

  • Article: "Ethical Considerations in Translation Research" (Journal of Translation Ethics)

• Activity:

  • Group discussion on how ethical issues could arise in translation research.

Week 8: Writing and Presenting Research Findings

• Lecture:

  • Structuring a research paper: Abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion.

  • Writing in academic style: Clarity, conciseness, and proper referencing.

  • How to present research findings (e.g., in a conference or academic setting).

• Reading:

  • Chapter 7: "Writing and Presenting Research Findings" (Textbook)

• Activity:

  • Peer review: Exchange research proposals and provide constructive feedback.

• Assignment:

  • Draft an outline of your final research paper (due at the end of the semester).

Week 9: Review and Final Project Preparation

• Lecture:

  • Review of key concepts from the course.

  • Final project guidelines and expectations.

• Activity:

  • Review sessions and Q&A on final project.

• Assignment:

  • Final research proposal (to be presented in Week 10).

Week 10: Final Project Presentations

• Activity:

  • Students present their research proposals to the class (either individually or in groups).

  • Peer and instructor feedback on presentations.

• Assignment:

  • Submit the final research paper (due at the end of the week).

Assessment:

• Weekly Assignments (40%): Short essays, annotated bibliographies, research proposals, etc.

• Class Participation (10%): Active participation in discussions and activities.

• Final Project (50%): Research proposal, literature review, and final research paper.