Yoolim Kim, Vita V Kogan, Cong Zhang. (2024).  [download link]

• Title: Collecting Big Data Through Citizen Science: Gamification and Game-based Approaches to Data Collection in Applied Linguistics
• Journal: Applied Linguistics
• Abstract:

Gamification of behavioral experiments has been applied successfully to research in a number of disciplines, including linguistics. We believe that these methods have been underutilized in applied linguistics, in particular second-language acquisition research. The incorporation of games and gaming elements (gamification) in behavioral experiments has been shown to mitigate many of the practical constraints characteristic of lab settings, such as limited recruitment or only achieving small-scale data. However, such constraints are no longer an issue with gamified and game-based experiments, and as a result, data collection can occur remotely with greater ease and on a much wider scale, yielding data that are ecologically valid and robust. These methods enable the collection of data that are comparable in quality to the data collected in more traditional settings while engaging far more diverse participants with different language backgrounds that are more representative of the greater population. We highlight three successful applications of using games and gamification with applied linguistic experiments to illustrate the effectiveness of such approaches in a greater effort to invite other applied linguists to do the same.

• Title: Gamifying phonetic data collection: an accent identification and attitude study
• Conference: Colloquium of the British Association of Academic Phoneticians (BAAP 2024)

Here's an article written by Fengting Du on an earlier version of this study:

https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/phonphon/2023/11/27/revolutionizing-phonetic-research-with-gamification-a-new-approach-to-accent-studies/ 

We are currently working on a journal article on this topic.

This is a stand-alone event held at the Farrell Centre on 2 November, 2024. This event is a part of the Festival of Social Science, funded by ESRC.

Check out the media section to see our event in the press!

Join us for an interactive drop-in event in the Farrell Centre exploring local dialect(s) in North-East England! Expect to spend about 30 minutes at the event — plenty of time to enjoy some tea, coffee, and biscuits while you’re here. An informal activity and conversation explore attitudes and beliefs about local dialect diversity (5+ min). Challenge yourself and compete with others in a web-based game where you'll identify where speakers are from within the North-East (15-20 minutes). The top three players will receive £30, £20, or £10 high-street shopping vouchers as prizes!

https://festivalofsocialscience.com/events/wey-aye-man/

We hold our second engagement event at the Great North Museumn: Hancock on 7th June 2025.

This event is a part of The Discover Festival -- a free, one-day festival of interactive family-fun in the heart of the North East.

Test your knowledge of local accents in this interactive session. Learn about the dialects of our region, and explore ideas of accent perception and identity. Then compete in our web-based game to see if you can identify where speakers are from within the North East. Mackem or Geordie? The top scorers of the day will win prizes.

Activity type: Interactive activity

Age group: All Ages

Booking type: Drop in

https://www.ncl.ac.uk/discover-fest/whats-on/event-items/howay/