For best experience please turn on javascript and use a modern browser!
You are using a browser that is no longer supported by Microsoft. Please upgrade your browser. The site may not present itself correctly if you continue browsing.
Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research (AIHR) AIHR

Statistics in Linguistics and Communication

This course teaches statistical analysis of research data in linguistics.

Course Description

This course focuses on statistical analysis of research data, centred around today’s standard method, which involves linear models, especially those with mixed effects (i.e., both “fixed effects” and “random effects” (e.g., participants drawn randomly from a population of people, and often also words or sentences drawn randomly from a language). If you are already familiar with some statistical techniques, you may have seen t-tests, correlation tests, and analysis of variance. During the course, these concepts turn out to be specific simplifying cases of mixed-effects modelling.

The course also addresses design issues that make the analyses suitable for your experiment, such as sampling, data collection, and reliability and validity of measurements. You apply these concepts, together with the analysis techniques, to theoretical, typological and applied research in your linguistic subdisciplines. Special attention is paid to statistical inference, i.e. correct use and formulation of statistical results.

You do not need prior knowledge of statistical methods. If you do have such knowledge, you may in fact have to unlearn some internalized ways of thinking.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, you will

  • have gained insight into the application of statistical and experimental methods in empirical research in linguistics;
  • be able, given your data table, to compute the best mixed-effects model that describes your data by applying a technique called linear regression or a technique called logistic regression.  The software you will be able to use for accomplishing that is R.

Further information can be found here.

NB: This is a course mainly meant for MA students. As a result, the amount of places for PhD researchers is extremely limited. Based on interest, we may organise a course specifically for PhD researchers next semester. 

Course details
  • Teaching method and contact hours

    Lecture/seminar: 2 x 3 hours per week.

    The course consists of seminars that include a mix of lectures and practical exercises in which we discuss applications to different linguistic domains of your own choice.

    As a student taking this course, you are required to make and submit homework exercises for most classes. As homework, you will typically create a literate R (“markdown”) script, i.e. a script in which you write both your text and your executable R code.

    Additionally, PhD graduates are also required to take the exams for this course.

  • Study materials
    • Class notes and homework notes provided via Canvas.
    • A laptop, i.e., a portable computer on which you can install programs and download files (portable devices without these capabilities, such as “tablets” or “chrome books”, are not sufficient for taking part in all activities, including exams).
    • You need to install RStudio and R.
    • You are expected to bring your laptop to class; the costs of the course are minimal, but might include the cost of a new laptop battery that can last for three hours.
  • Assessment

    Please note that these assessments are also mandatory for PhD graduates.

    This course has several examinations:

    • Homework | 30%
    • Mid-term test | 15%
    • Computer test | 20%
    • Final written exam | 35%

    For the examination dates please consult the timetable on rooster.uva.nl.

  • Course registration

    NB: Read the course details closely before registering. This course requires you to turn in homework twice a week, and at least 168 hours of study. Additionally, you are required to participate in the assessments.

    Registration for this course has closed. The next course will take place in February 2026. You will be notified by your research school before registration opens.

  • Course Dates - February 2025

    This course takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00 to 15:00 during February and March.

    On location:

    Week 1: 11 and 13 February

    Week 2: 18 and 21 February

    Week 3: 25 and 27 February

    Week 4: 4 and 6 March

    Week 5: 11 and 13 March

    Week 6: 18 and 20 March

    This course also has additional examination dates. Please consult the timetable on rooster.uva.nl for these dates.

Lecturers

This course is taught by Titia Benders and Paul Boersma.