{"id":65070,"date":"2024-06-20T23:14:27","date_gmt":"2024-06-20T22:14:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/?post_type=project&#038;p=65070"},"modified":"2024-08-22T21:06:13","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T20:06:13","slug":"research-methods-creative-challenges","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/projects\/research-methods-creative-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Methods &#8211; Creative Challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"tts_content_wrapper_2\" >\n<p>The course is structured around five foundational methodologies: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Scholarly and Theoretical Research (Textual Research)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Design and Creative Methods<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Empiricism\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Qualitative Methods<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Quantitative Methods<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mixed Methods<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Through these creative challenges, students will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Visualize methodological communities and their epistemological assumptions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Analyze and critique published PTC articles through rhetorical, textual, and citation analysis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Evaluate research methodologies for flaws, ethical considerations, and epistemological alignment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Develop an original research proposal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conduct and present original research (optional for those seeking an A grade).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>This progressive approach allows students to build their skills incrementally, moving from critical consumers of research to active producers of knowledge in the field. By the end of the course, students will be well-prepared to engage with and contribute to the diverse landscape of research in Professional and Technical Communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/projects\/research-methods-creative-challenges\/#Creative_Challenges_%E2%80%93_Writing_Assignments\" title=\"Creative Challenges &#8211; Writing Assignments\">Creative Challenges &#8211; Writing Assignments<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/projects\/research-methods-creative-challenges\/#Key_Terms_Concepts_and_Research_Methods_in_Professional_and_Technical_Communication\" title=\"Key Terms, Concepts, and Research Methods in Professional and Technical Communication\">Key Terms, Concepts, and Research Methods in Professional and Technical Communication<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/projects\/research-methods-creative-challenges\/#How_to_Critique_Research_Questions_Reviews_and_Citations\" title=\"How to Critique Research Questions, Reviews, and Citations\">How to Critique Research Questions, Reviews, and Citations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/projects\/research-methods-creative-challenges\/#How_to_Critique_Research_Methods\" title=\"How to Critique Research Methods\">How to Critique Research Methods<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/projects\/research-methods-creative-challenges\/#How_to_Develop_an_Effective_Research_Proposal\" title=\"How to Develop an Effective Research Proposal\">How to Develop an Effective Research Proposal<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/projects\/research-methods-creative-challenges\/#How_To_Effectively_Present_Your_Research_Findings_Optional\" title=\"How To Effectively Present Your Research Findings (Optional)\">How To Effectively Present Your Research Findings (Optional)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Creative_Challenges_%E2%80%93_Writing_Assignments\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/projects\/research-methods-creative-challenges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Research Methods \u2013 Creative Challenges\">Creative Challenges &#8211; Writing Assignments<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond a few in-class quizzes, activities, and assignments, the bulk of your work in this class will be to complete four required creative challenges. These assignments are &#8220;scaffolded&#8221;; in other words, they build on one another. The final assignment is optional in the sense that only students who seek an A in the class are required to complete it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Terms_Concepts_and_Research_Methods_in_Professional_and_Technical_Communication\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/projects\/research-methods-creative-challenges\/key-terms-concepts-research-methods-in-professional-and-technical-communication\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Key Terms, Concepts, &amp; Research Methods in Professional and Technical Communication\">Key Terms, Concepts, and Research Methods in Professional and Technical Communication<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This goal of this challenge is to introduce you to the vocabulary, concepts, <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/information-literacy\/epistemology\/\">epistemological foundations<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/research\/research-methods\/\">research methods<\/a> of the major Methodological Communities that inform contemporary knowledge-making practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Critique_Research_Questions_Reviews_and_Citations\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/projects\/research-methods-creative-challenges\/how-to-critique-research-questions-reviews-and-citations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"How to Critique Research Questions, Reviews, and Citations\">How to Critique Research Questions, Reviews, and Citations<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal of this challenge is to deepen students&#8217; understanding of diverse research methodologies by analyzing and comparing the shared and disparate practices of scholars, designers\/creatives, and empiricists. Through collaborative analysis and reflection, students explore how different <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/information-literacy\/epistemology\/\" title=\"Citation \u2013 Definition \u2013 Introduction to Citation in Academic &amp; Professional Writing\">epistemological assumptions<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-situation\/audience\/research-communities\/\" title=\"Methodological Community \u2013 Research Community\">methodological communities<\/a> shape <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-situation\/purpose\/research-question\/\" title=\"Research Question\">research questions<\/a>, literature reviews, <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/citation\/\" title=\"Citation \u2013 Definition \u2013 Introduction to Citation in Academic &amp; Professional Writing\">citations<\/a>, and overall <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/discourse\/discourse-conventions\/\" title=\"Discourse Conventions\">discourse conventions<\/a> within the PTC field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Critique_Research_Methods\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/projects\/research-methods-creative-challenges\/how-to-critique-research-methods\/\" title=\"How to Critique Research Methods\">How to Critique Research Methods<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal of this challenge is to develop students&#8217; critical thinking and analytical skills in evaluating research methodologies within Professional and Technical Communication by having them collaboratively analyze and critique published studies across different journals for methodological flaws, ethical considerations, and alignment with epistemological assumptions. Additionally, this challenge aims to broaden students&#8217; understanding of the field by comparing findings across journals, allowing them to infer the relative authority of different journals and identify common methods and epistemological assumptions prevalent in PTC research. Through group presentations, students share their insights, fostering a comprehensive view of the current state of research practices in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Develop_an_Effective_Research_Proposal\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/projects\/how-to-develop-an-effective-research-proposal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"How to Develop an Effective Research Proposal\">How to Develop an Effective Research Proposal<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal of this challenge is to empower students to apply their understanding of research methodologies in Professional and Technical Communication by developing and composing an original research proposal. Students will demonstrate their ability to engage in rhetorical reasoning and audience analysis to determine the appropriate discourse conventions for their chosen methodological community. Building on their previous analyses of published studies and exploration of various methodological approaches, students will formulate their own research questions, design appropriate methods, and craft a proposal that aligns with the epistemological assumptions, ethical considerations, and rhetorical expectations of their target audience within the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_To_Effectively_Present_Your_Research_Findings_Optional\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/projects\/research-methods-creative-challenges\/how-to-effectively-share-your-research-findings\/\" title=\"How to Effectively Share Your Research Findings\">How To Effectively Present Your Research Findings (Optional)<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal of this final challenge is to synthesize and apply the knowledge and skills students have developed throughout the course in Research Methods in Professional and Technical Communication. Building on their previous work\u2014from understanding key concepts and epistemological foundations of various methodological communities, to analyzing and critiquing published studies, to developing their own research proposals\u2014students will now conduct, report, and reflect on their own research projects. This challenge represents the culmination of their journey from critical consumers to active producers of knowledge in the field, demonstrating their ability to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Execute a research project aligned with the methodological practices and epistemological assumptions of their chosen community.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Communicate findings effectively in a genre appropriate to their audience and research topic, showcasing their understanding of discourse conventions and rhetorical strategies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Present their work to peers, reflecting the collaborative nature of knowledge-sharing in professional and academic settings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Critically reflect on their research process, including the use of AI tools, and situate their work within ongoing scholarly conversations in their methodological community.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>This final challenge thus encapsulates the course&#8217;s progression from theoretical understanding to practical application, from analysis to creation, and from individual learning to contributing to the broader field of Professional and Technical Communication.<br>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":64395,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","tags":[],"class_list":["post-65070","project","type-project","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/65070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/project"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"version-history":[{"count":42,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/65070\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66911,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/65070\/revisions\/66911"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}