ACADEMIC RESEARCH METHODS - 2025/6

Module Overview

In this module, students will learn about the principal frameworks, methods and data types used in conducting research in translation and interpreting, as well as in interdisciplinary research with related fields.

Module provider

Literature & Languages

Module Leader

GOUGH Joanna (Lit & Langs)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Introduction to research in translation and interpreting


• Developing a research question


• Literature review, including critical reading


• Research design and research ethics


• Research in translation and interpreting process and product


• Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed methods approaches


• Presenting research projects and results.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

n/a

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

• knowledge and understanding of approaches to research in translation and interpreting


• ability to conduct a systematic literature review and to engage critically with existing research


• ability to develop and present a research proposal
   

• An annotated bibliography and a sample of literature review (1,500-2,000 words) (50%)
  Students look for literature relevant to a given topic and provide an annotated bibliography of 10 entries, each with an annotation of circa 75 words, followed by a sample of literature review based on the bibliography. The literature review part should be circa 750 words.


• A research proposal (1,500-2,000 words) (50%)
  Students identify an original research problem and draft a proposal for addressing this problem in a systematic way, with a focus on formulating appropriate research questions and outlining an appropriate methodology.

• Students will be provided with detailed written feedback following coursework assignments.


• Verbal feedback will also occur in class and individual appointments if required.


• Formative feedback will be given during a dedicated research design session and/or during students’ presentation on a chosen research proposal.

Module aims

• This module aims to: equip students with the means to initiate and carry out their own research projects (i.e. MA dissertations, PhD proposals and theses)
• enable students to develop critical reading and thinking, and evaluation skills in relation to a research project cycle
• provide students with a sound knowledge to understand how to link research questions with methods of data collection and analysis
• provide students with knowledge and raise awareness of digital tools necessary to collect, analyse and report data
• enable students to present and disseminate the outcomes of their research in an effective way
• stimulate a critical debate about the societal problems which research in Translation Studies and other disciplines can help address

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Enable students to become resourceful, resilient, and skilled researchers, achieve a good understanding of research in the field of translation, interpreting and interdisciplinary studies, carry out independent academic research and take responsibility for their own research projects. This is achieved by providing students with a structure that supports them in the gradual development of their research proposal during the semester through the development of critical thinking skills and considering the main research steps.

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Seminars providing opportunities for group and whole class discussions

• Materials and activities for guided study posted on SurreyLearn


• Self-study

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: TRAM497

Other information

The Centre for Translation Studies is  committed to developing  graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas:

Employability: This module provides opportunities for students to develop core and transferrable skills and capabilities in preparation for employment in academia or within the industry. Students will develop a critical and inquisitive mind through finding a research topic, learn how to make decisions through designing their research, work on rigorous and systematic approaches to collecting and analysing data, and develop presentation skills when they present their design to other students.

Digital Capabilities: Students will develop digital information seeking skills through extensive use of online search tools, digital libraries and databases. In addition, they are encouraged to use digital referencing tools which will enable them to store and use bibliographic information in a more efficient and effective way. Students will also learn to work with digital tools to carry out basic data processing and analysis as well as ways to create a digital data management plan.

Global and Cultural Capabilities: This module enables students to reflect on issues related to language and translation that transcend their own languages and cultures. By learning about the many areas of research in Translation Studies and related disciplines, students develop an understanding of how research can contribute to the building of a more cohesive and inclusive global and multilingual world. By sharing their research interests rooted in a variety of cultures and languages they bring these issues to the fore in classroom.

Sustainability: By reflecting upon the types of interdisciplinary research in Translation Studies, students are encouraged to think about areas of application of such research to solve real-life problems, for example in sustainable translation technologies or sustainable and ergonomic working practices within the field, as well as sustainability issues surrounding digital and technological platforms used in Translation Studies as a field and how these can affect research practices.

Resourcefulness and Resilience: This module develops a range of skills to help build resilience and resourcefulness through learning how to develop different strategies to cope with reading large amounts of academic literature, how and where to find information quickly and efficiently, and, most importantly, how to look for answers to questions through a systematic and rigorous investigation. Students become more resilient by experiencing the iterative nature of designing research, allowing some ideas to fail in order to be replaced by more suitable ones, as well as recognising various contextual limitations, blind alleys, and the need for continuous development of existing ideas.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.