1. Introduction to Research Methodology

2. Outline
Why is researching important?
How to start a “linguistics” (read: translation) research?
What kinds of translation research are available to date?

3. Writing papers: model 1
Idea
Do research
Write paper

4. Writing papers: model 2 Forces us to be clear, focused
Idea
Do research
Write paper
Idea
Write paper
Do research
Forces us to be clear, focused
Opens the way to dialogue with others: reality check, critique, and collaboration

5. Introduction There are two aspects of starting a new research:
Preparing things to be researched → topic, purpose, research question, importance, scope of research
Preparing the methodology → research paradigm & methodology
Remember the nature of language research is multiple, instead of singular.

6. Empirical generalizations
The Wheel of Science
Theories
Empirical generalizations
Hypotheses
Observations

7. The research ’onion’

8. Major philosophies
Positivism (=direct realism): working with an observable social reality to produce law-like generalizations.
Critical realism: explains what we experience in terms of the underlying structures of reality.
Interpretivism: it studies humans created meanings.
Postmodernism: it questions the accepted ways of thinking and give voice to alternative ones.
Pragmatism: concepts are only relevant when they are supporting action.

10. Definition
A system of beliefs and assumptions about the development of knowledge.
This is what you as a researcher will do: developing knowledge on a particular field.
These assumptions inevitably shape how you understand your research questions.
This will allow to design a coherent research project.

11. Three types of research assumptions
Ontological
Epistemological
Axiological

12. Three types of research assumptions
Ontology
It refers to assumptions about the nature of reality.
The way you see and study your research objects (organizations, management, artifacts etc.).
Epistimology
Assumptions about knowledge, what constitutes acceptable, valid and legitimate knowledge, and how we can communicate knowledge to others.
Axiology
Refers to the role of values and ethics within the research process.
How researchers deal with their own values and those of the other research participants.

14. Preparing the topic Personal interest Review of related literature
Research advantage

15. Personal interest Small focus and detailed For example:
Research about “conjunction” in translation
However, small focus may difficult students’ findings (especially S1 students)

16. Book review Research journals, thesis, dissertations Research gap
Novelty
Strengths and weaknesses
Void (aspects)

17. How to review a book? Title identification
Social context identification
Methodology

18. Research Rationale
Consists of: background, purpose, questions, significance, and scope of the study
They are inseperable
Background should start from specific thing, instead of general one
Etic: concepts and ideas are studied, and it is an outsider
Emic: the research participants' words and perspectives are the starting point, and it is an insider
Homework: see previous research’s suggestions. See if they inspire you to conduct a research

19. IMRAD

20. Your narrative flow Here is a problem It’s an interesting problem
It’s an unsolved problem
Here is my idea
My idea works (details, data)
Here’s how my idea compares to other people’s approaches

21. Types of Translation

22. Types of Translation

23. Evaluation How can you find a research gap?
How do you differ novelty and research gap?
Why is a research rationale important?
Where is your interest?