28.4964, Calls: English, Discipline of Ling, Gen Ling, Ling Theories/UK

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-28-4964. Mon Nov 27 2017. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 28.4964, Calls: English, Discipline of Ling, Gen Ling, Ling Theories/UK

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Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2017 15:38:08
From: Valentin Werner [valentin.werner at uni-bamberg.de]
Subject: The “Quantitative Crisis”, Cumulative Science, and English Linguistics

 
Full Title: The “Quantitative Crisis”, Cumulative Science, and English Linguistics 

Date: 17-Jul-2018 - 17-Jul-2018
Location: London, United Kingdom 
Contact Person: Valentin Werner
Meeting Email: valentin.werner at uni-bamberg.de
Web Site: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/english-usage/isle5/workshops.htm 

Linguistic Field(s): Discipline of Linguistics; General Linguistics; Linguistic Theories 

Subject Language(s): English (eng)

Call Deadline: 15-Jan-2018 

Meeting Description:

Recently, fundamental issues in scientific reasoning have been vividly debated
in a number of scholarly disciplines with strong quantitative traditions.
Relevant publications – referring to a paradigm labelled the “quantitative
crisis” – have explored major shortcomings of current research and publication
practice, which may inhibit the ultimate goal of scholarly study: progress in
knowledge construction (or uncertainty reduction). Issues within this broader
discourse are 

(i) Non-reproducibility of studies, as, for example, original data and
analysis procedures are not accessible
(ii) Concerns about high rates of false-positive findings in the published
scientific literature
(iii) Overreliance on the results of a single “authoritative” study, on which
an influential theory or even an entire research paradigm may be based (also
induced by (i))
(iv) Lack of transparency in methodology and analysis decisions
(v) Negligence of replication studies as purportedly “unoriginal” (and
unprestigious) despite their potential to put previous findings in perspective

Evidently, (i)–(v) stand in stark contrast to the ultimate goal of scientific
study stated above, and may even violate what are viewed as fundamental maxims
of scholarly work. Further, from a more practical perspective, (i)–(v) may
translate into a systematic, but unwarranted publication bias toward the “new”
(research gap filling) and the “significant” (positive rather than null or
ambiguous findings).

Linguistics also has developed into a firmly quantitative discipline, with the
implicit claim to adhere to the “scientific method”. However, despite repeated
calls in the literature, and despite efforts in neighboring fields, such as
psychology, second language acquisition research, applied linguistics, and
typology, it is striking that a discourse similar to the one outlined above
has to date not ensued in the area of descriptive linguistics. 

Format:

The workshop will follow the pattern of the main conference (20 minutes per
presentation + 10 minutes discussion/questions).


Call for Papers:

We are looking forward to receiving paper proposals to be part of a workshop
themed: The ''quantitative crisis'', cumulative science, and English
linguistics. This event will be part of the 5th meeting of the International
Society for the Linguistics of English (ISLE5).

It is the aim of this workshop to provide a forum for debating the
implications of the “quantitative crisis” and attempts toward its solution for
(English) linguistics. We argue that it is genuinely worth considering whether
and how the issues and solutions listed above equally apply to our field, and
where discipline-specific adaptations are needed. In this spirit, the workshop
welcomes contributions that

(i) Discuss the application of alternative or complementary approaches to data
analysis (e.g. Bayesian inference, estimation using effect sizes and
confidence intervals, use of regularization techniques)
(ii) Discuss and outline the potential and limitations of cumulative knowledge
construction in linguistics (e.g. through case studies applying meta-analysis
or close or conceptual replication)
(iii) Explore how principles of open science have been and could be
implemented within the linguistic community (e.g. through the affordances of
electronic media)
(iv) Discuss repercussions of (i)–(iii) for the linguistic publication system
(e.g. open science badges, the review process, reporting guidelines, issues
pertaining to the “novelty over reliability” bias)
(v) Discuss repercussions of (i)–(iii) for the training of (future)
researchers (e.g. design of textbooks and courses on research methodology,
development of statistical literacy).

Abstract Submission:

Please submit abstracts of 300 to 500 words (excl. references) in PDF format
to Lukas Sönning (lukas.soenning at uni-bamberg.de) and Valentin Werner
(valentin.werner at uni-bamberg.de).

Submission deadline: 15 January 2018
Notification of acceptance: 15 February 2018




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