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Uses of Corpus Linguistics in Higher Education Research: An Adjustable Lens

Siân Alsop
Virginia King
Genie Giaimo
Xiaoyu Xu

Theory and Method in Higher Education Research

ISBN: 978-1-80043-321-2, eISBN: 978-1-80043-320-5

ISSN: 2056-3752

Publication date: 9 November 2020

Abstract

In this chapter, we explore uses of corpus linguistics within higher education research. Corpus linguistic approaches enable examination of large bodies of language data based on computing power. These bodies of data, or corpora, facilitate investigation of the meaning of words in context. The semiautomated nature of such investigation helps researchers to identify and interpret language patterns that might otherwise be inaccessible through manual analysis. We illustrate potential uses of corpus linguistic approaches through four short case studies by higher education researchers, spanning educational contexts, disciplines and genres. These case studies are underpinned by discussion of the development of corpus linguistics as a field of investigation, including existing open corpora and corpus analysis tools. We give a flavour of how corpus linguistic techniques, in isolation or as part of a wider research approach, can be particularly helpful to higher education researchers who wish to investigate language data and its context.

Keywords

  • Corpus linguistics
  • Higher education
  • Research
  • Case studies
  • Discourse
  • Quantitative
  • Qualitative

Citation

Alsop, S., King, V., Giaimo, G. and Xu, X. (2020), "Uses of Corpus Linguistics in Higher Education Research: An Adjustable Lens", Huisman, J. and Tight, M. (Ed.) Theory and Method in Higher Education Research (Theory and Method in Higher Education Research, Vol. 6), Emerald Publishing Limited, pp. 21-40. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2056-375220200000006003

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