2027 Summer Research Program
Engage in a formal research project over the summer break with the UQ Summer Research Program.
The UQ Summer Research Scholarship Program offers scholarships to students wishing to gain experience working alongside a researcher in a formal research environment in their area of interest at UQ.
Each project will be offered for a period of six (6) weeks between 11 January to 19 February 2027.
Successful applicants will receive a $3,000 grant.
Participation is open to undergraduate (including honours) and master by coursework students who are currently enrolled and will remain at UQ for the entirety of the research program.
Applications will open 21 September
6. Mixed-Methods Analysis of Language Practices among Korean-Australian Immigrant Families
Project title: | Mixed-Methods Analysis of Language Practices among Korean-Australian Immigrant Families |
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Hours & delivery | Duration: 4 weeks (18 January to 12 February 2027) |
About the project: | This project investigates language use and interaction within Korean immigrant families in Australia, with a particular focus on how parents and children communicate across two languages in everyday family life. Understanding these patterns is important for informing language maintenance strategies, bilingual education, and support for immigrant families more broadly. The project draws on three types of data: survey responses, semi-structured interviews with parents, and audio recordings of naturally occurring parent-child conversations. Together, these datasets offer complementary perspectives — the survey and interview data capture parents' attitudes and experiences, while the conversational recordings reveal how language is actually used in real-time family interaction. The student's role will be central to organising, transcribing, and conducting preliminary analysis of this data. This includes structuring survey and interview data for analysis, and transcribing and coding selected audio recordings of parent-child conversations. The student's contribution will directly support the broader research goals of the project by helping to build a well-organised, analysable dataset that will inform future publications and research directions in this area. |
What you’ll do | You will assist in organising and cleaning survey data, coding interview transcripts, and transcribing audio recordings of parent-child conversations in Korean and English. You will support basic quantitative analysis of survey data (e.g. descriptive statistics) and contribute to qualitative coding of interview and conversational data, working closely with the supervisor to identify recurring themes and patterns. You may also assist with organising data files and maintaining accurate records in line with ethical research practices. |
What you’ll learn | You will develop practical skills in quantitative research, including data organisation and basic statistical analysis, as well as qualitative research skills through interview and conversational data analysis, including transcription and coding techniques used in discourse and language research. You will gain hands-on experience with real research data and research workflows, along with a clearer understanding of how mixed-methods research is designed and conducted. These skills provide a strong foundation for students considering postgraduate research, particularly an MA or PhD in language education, applied linguistics, or related fields. |
Project outcomes | By the end of the project, the student will have contributed to a well-organised dataset combining survey, interview, and conversational data on language use in Korean immigrant families. The student may be expected to produce a short written report summarising their contributions and key observations from the data, which may also inform future academic outputs from the project. |
Who should apply? | This project suits UQ students in their 3rd year or above who are organised, responsible, and proficient in both Korean and English, with strong listening skills in Korean for transcription work. A background in language education, applied linguistics, or a related field is an advantage. Students with an interest in bilingualism, family language policy, or immigrant communities, and those considering postgraduate research, are especially encouraged to apply. |
Team & supervision | The project will be supervised by Dr Min Jung Jee, School of Languages and Cultures. The student will work directly with the supervisor throughout the project, with regular check-ins to discuss progress, provide feedback, and guide data analysis. |
Primary Supervisor: | Min Jung Jee (m.jee@uq.edu.au), School of Languages and Cultures |
Contact | Please contact the supervisor prior to submitting an application. Applicants will take an interview. If you have any questions or further information on the project, please email the supervisor by email (m.jee@uq.edu.au). |