Developing advanced citation skills: A mixed-methods approach to corpus technology training for novice researchers

IF 3.1 1区文学 Q1 EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

Journal of English for Academic Purposes Pub Date : 2024-10-18 DOI:10.1016/j.jeap.2024.101451

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

In contrast with most existing corpus technology (CT) studies which focus primarily on general vocabulary and grammar learning, this study investigates the effectiveness of CT in addressing challenges encountered by novice researchers in improving an advanced linguistic skill in EAP writing: using reporting verbs to express rhetorical functions in citations in literature reviews. An eight-week CT training programme featuring a practical framework of the rhetorical functions of citations and utilising the Parallel EAP Corpora was implemented for 50 Chinese postgraduate students who were L2 English users. A mixed-methods approach was adopted. Paired-samples t-tests demonstrated statistically significant improvement with medium effect sizes in the frequency and diversity of reporting verb usage in citations, as well as in the complexity of expressing rhetorical functions of citations. These findings were further corroborated by corpus-aided descriptive statistical and textual analyses. Questionnaire data and interviews further revealed students' positive evaluations towards the training informed by the Parallel EAP Corpora, which facilitated participants' learning in various ways. These findings hold substantial value for EAP pedagogy, indicating that the incorporation of pedagogically sound CT training can significantly improve novice researchers’ development of academic discourse through nuanced citation practices and advanced rhetorical strategies for composing literature reviews.

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开发高级引文技能：采用混合方法对研究新手进行语料库技术培训

大多数现有的语料库技术（CT）研究主要侧重于一般词汇和语法学习，与此不同，本研究调查了CT在解决研究新手在提高EAP写作高级语言技能方面遇到的挑战的有效性：在文献综述的引文中使用报告动词表达修辞功能。我们为 50 名英语为第二语言的中国研究生实施了为期八周的 CT 培训计划，该计划以引文修辞功能的实用框架为特色，并使用了 EAP 平行语料库。培训采用了混合方法。配对样本 t 检验表明，在引文中报告动词使用的频率和多样性方面，以及在表达引文修辞功能的复杂性方面，都有统计学意义上的显著提高，且效果大小适中。语料库辅助描述性统计和文本分析进一步证实了这些发现。问卷调查数据和访谈进一步显示，学生们对并行 EAP 语料库提供的培训给予了积极评价，认为该语料库以各种方式促进了学员的学习。这些研究结果对 EAP 教学法具有重要价值，表明通过细微的引文实践和撰写文献综述的高级修辞策略，纳入教学上合理的 CT 培训可以显著提高新手研究人员的学术话语发展能力。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of English for Academic Purposes Multiple-

CiteScore

6.60

自引率

13.30%

发文量

审稿时长

57 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of English for Academic Purposes provides a forum for the dissemination of information and views which enables practitioners of and researchers in EAP to keep current with developments in their field and to contribute to its continued updating. JEAP publishes articles, book reviews, conference reports, and academic exchanges in the linguistic, sociolinguistic and psycholinguistic description of English as it occurs in the contexts of academic study and scholarly exchange itself.