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A-level English investigation

I have no idea what to do for my English language investigation.

I did have the idea to look at how swearing alternates between different age groups, but my teacher and me quickly realised that there would be an issue in collecting valid data, as you must tell people that they're being recorded, but in doing so my participants may change how often they swear/what swear words they use because they are aware that they're being recorded.

Anyone have any ideas of how to get around this or another investigation idea?

Reply 1

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Original post by Evelyn_anna

I have no idea what to do for my English language investigation.
I did have the idea to look at how swearing alternates between different age groups, but my teacher and me quickly realised that there would be an issue in collecting valid data, as you must tell people that they're being recorded, but in doing so my participants may change how often they swear/what swear words they use because they are aware that they're being recorded.
Anyone have any ideas of how to get around this or another investigation idea?

If you’re set on centering it around swearing, could you maybe try using a script from a show/film?

I did my investigation on the presentation of the genders in Clueless, and how the expectations were marred by age and background (the last part is a bit unnecessary, but I enjoyed it anyway and got the highest NEA mark in my class!). Obviously, though, a script is pre-written, and so you’d have to show awareness throughout the investigation that the presentations of the different age groups/their use of expletives is either playing up to/not playing up to stereotypical expectations. Just make sure to constantly be aware of the context affecting the speech - why it was written a certain way, either to match expectations, or to defy stereotypes.

I’m not too sure if this makes a difference, but could you alternatively maybe record people and then ask them afterwards if it’s okay to use? It might seem a bit sketchy, but if you explain why you’ve done it (for accuracy because you don’t want them to be cautious of being recorded), they may let you use the recording!