Answering Good Questions with Programmatic Research: A Research-Methods Bootcamp for Writing Program Administrators
Please join us for this Institute that will equip you for the kinds of research that can help you succeed as a scholar/practitioner. The Institute begins on Wednesday, July 25 at 1:00, allowing you to travel to Sacramento, if you choose, on the first day and so avoid an extra night’s stay. The cost is the same as a 1-day Institute.
This 1 ½ day institute introduces WPAs to empirical models of program research: pedagogical practices, pilot innovations, and support for institutional missions. Day one formulates research questions, cultivates relationships, explores methods of data collection and analysis, and genres for sharing findings. Day two entails small groups based on program needs to develop action plans.
Overview
In 1999, Irwin Weiser and Shirley Rose argued that the research know-how of WPAs was central to effective work within a program and a significant opportunity for intellectual work. Two decades later, many WPAs yet say that they are at a loss when it comes to designing and carrying out writing program research. Few have had more than one opportunity to study research methods (and many have never had the chance at all) or had the chance to work closely with more experienced researchers.
“Answering Good Questions with Programmatic Research: A Research-Methods Bootcamp for Writing Program Administrators” will address this persistent gap in the field. This two-day workshop (running concurrently with the WPA workshop) will offer an intensive course in several essential research methods in writing studies and the practical necessities of research project design. Topics in this two-day workshop will include:
- Introduction to Four Common RAD (Reproducible, Aggregable, and Data-Supported) Methods: (, program-based ethnography, elicited-recall techniques, corpus linguistics, and writing assessment)
- Designing Answerable Questions
- Data Collection Techniques: Survey Design, Interviewing, Observations, Program Numbers, Corpus Building, Scoring-Guide Design, etc.
- Managing Data Collection
- Coding and Triangulating Data
- Writing Up Your Research
- Using Research Findings to Inform Program Work
This institute is suitable for brand new and experienced WPAs. Participants will work in small groups to discuss the exigences facing their programs (administrative mandates, changing stakeholders, new curricula, etc.) and design responsive research projects or troubleshoot existing ones. Workshop leaders are experienced writing program researchers, and administrators who have conducted empirical research in a number of different institutions, programs, and circumstances. All presenters have taught graduate classes on research methods and mentored graduate students/new researchers through thesis and dissertation projects. Presenters have published extensively in the fields of writing studies, writing centers, writing programs, and writing across the curriculum.
Workshop Schedule
Day One: Wednesday, July 25
1:00 – 1:45 Introductions and foundations
Participants and facilitators introduce themselves, share ongoing research projects and describe questions, disjunctures, exigencies, and starting (or continuing) points for their work.
1:15-2:00: Asking better questions
- What kinds of questions can be answered with which methods?
- How do you ask an answerable question?
2:00 – 3:45 The Ethics of Research
Recruiting and working with participants, IRBs, and institutional sites; consequential validity; informant/researcher dynamics; significance and confidence
3:45-4:00 Break
4:00-4:45
Empirical Research: Four Models
RAD Overview: Elicited-Recall Methods (focus group, interview, discourse-based interview, matched-guise protocol, etc.), corpus analytics, holistic and distributive evaluation, and program-based ethnography
4:45 to 5:15 pm: Mapping your project
Share project ideas/proposals:
- Who are your stakeholders and allies?
- What is your end goal for this project?
- What is your research question?
- What data would you like to collect?
- How will you identify and recruit participants/collect artifacts?
- How will you manage your data?
- What sorts of decisions will be made as a result of the data you produce?
5: 15 – 6:00 Next Steps
Home work:
- What questions do you have about your project?
- What might be some of the challenges you will face in conducting your research project?
- How will you negotiate the issues of your research ethically and rigorously?
Day Two
8:00 - 9:00 pm: (Re)Introductions and Realizations
Participants and facilitators discuss “aha” moments of the previous day; then use affinity mapping to get at the questions behind last night’s questions and challenges.
9:00 - 10:30: Break into one of four focused research groups.
- Program-based Ethnography – exploring practice and relationships
- Elicited Recall – designing surveys, interviews, focus groups
- Corpus Analysis – distant reading
- Writing Assessment – appraising quality, development, and genre knowledge
10:30 – 10:45: break
10:45 – 12:30: Individual Work: Work on project documents and protocol: Recruitment scripts, interview protocol, build corpora; design a scoring guide; map documentary and activity flows, etc.
12:30 – 1:15: lunch
1:15 to 2:15 pm: practicing recursive research design: re-articulating questions and queries in light of initial results
2:15 to 2:30 pm: Break
2:30 to 3:15 pm: Data Analysis
Practice reporting a finding and speculating about what it might mean.
3:15 to 3:45 pm: Small group work
Share project ideas/proposals:
- What would like feedback on?
- Where do you need further support?
3:45 to 4:00 pm: Research Communities
- How will you stay in touch after today’s workshop?
- What timeline will your project follow?
- How will you work together going forward?
In addition to workshop activities/protocol handouts, we will share a lengthy bibliography with participants.
Facilitators:
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Diane Kelly-Riley Associate Professor of English; Associate Dean for Research University of Idaho 208-885-5704 Department of English/College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences 875 Perimeter Drive Moscow, Idaho 83844-1102 |
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Michelle LaFrance George Mason University Assistant Professor of English 206.280.5897 GMU English Department MS 3E4 Robinson A 487 4400 University Drive Fairfax, VA 22030-4444 |
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Chuck Paine Professor Associate Chair of Core Writing Director of Rhetoric and Writing Department of English University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131 |
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