English 713-001
Qualitative Research in Writing and Literacy
Instr: Spilka, Rachel
Office: CRT 594; 229-4500
e-mail: spilka@uwm.edu
Office hours: TBA
Course Information: T; 5:30-8:10pm; CRT 127
Course Description
(This course is available to all graduate students interested in researching topic areas related to writing and literacy. Students specializing in linguistics, rhetoric, and professional writing will find this course especially useful. Note that it is offered just once every two years.)
Graduate students in English and related fields need to master fundamental research methods to maximize their (a) job marketability and (b) potential to "add value" to postgraduate positions in academia and elsewhere. This seminar provides thorough instruction in qualitative research in any area of study related to writing and literacy.
During the semester, we will examine the philosophies that ground qualitative methods, consider criticisms of this type of research, develop skill in critiquing research designs and identifying rival hypotheses for research findings, reflect on ethical matters that arise in field research, and propose, design, conduct, and report on a small-scale pilot study of writing or literacy in an educational or workplace setting. Most likely, we will spend seven weeks preparing to enter the field, five weeks doing field (pilot study) work, and four weeks analyzing data and preparing a research report.
SPECIFIC RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
From this course, you will gain experience in completing the following tasks:
Preparing for a Qualitative Study
- Define and describe common features of qualitative research.
- Understand when it is appropriate to conduct qualitative research.
- Write appropriate research questions for a qualitative study; succinctly state the main purpose of a qualitative study.
- Select appropriate methods for a qualitative study and provide a convincing rationale for your methodological choices.
- Learn how to gain access to a research site and plan fully for a research project.
- Write and submit an IRB (Institutional Review Board) proposal.
- Understand the primary criticisms, controversies, and ethical issues of this type of research and make deliberate decisions about how to cope with those while planning, conducting, analyzing, and reporting on your study.
Conducting a Qualitative Study
- Conduct effective observations and interviews; design effective surveys and project log sheets; conduct usability tests.
- Take effective field notes while conducting qualitative research.
- Identify field research problems and find reasonable ways to resolve them.
Analyzing and Reporting on Qualitative Data
- Learn common methods for identifying, charting, and modeling patterns in data you've collected.
- Learn multiple ways to report qualitative study data; understand rhetorical and ethical issues of those choices.
- Develop the ability to critique reports on qualitative study; become accustomed to considering rival hypotheses.
- Learn how to analyze pilot study data and report on it in informative and persuasive oral and written research reports.
