Quantitative research in linguistics: an introduction

This book presents a comprehensive introduction to analysing quantitative linguistic data for students and postgraduate research projects. Starting with an in-depth examination of what quantitative data is, and how it differs from qualitative data, the book examines what the linguist is trying to find out through analysing data, and how quantitative techniques can help him or her to arrive at meaningful and accurate conclusions. The book introduces: using statistics, variables, reliability of data, describing data, analysing data, testing hypotheses and dealing with problematic data.Each chapter includes graphs and figures explaining theory through worked examples, chapter summaries, and exercises to aid student understanding. An appendix containing a summary of statistical formulae, excel commands and statistical tables is included and is an invaluable resource.Presenting a down-to-earth and readable introduction to quantitative research, this book is a useful how-to guide for students encountering quantitative data for the first time, or for postgraduates embarking on linguistic research projects. "Research Methods in Linguistics" is a new series from Continuum providing a series of introductions to the quantitative and qualitative research methods needed by undergraduate and postgraduate students. The centre of the series is "Research Methods in Linguistics" edited by Lia Litosseliti, which provides a comprehensive overview of all the research methods needed by linguistics students. Each book in the series takes one of the research methods described in the general introduction and expands upon this in a book length study.