Welcome to English 6401: Research Methods in TWDR!
Hello everyone!
This blogspot is a safe space for us to share our research progress and processes as we plow through our course assignments this semester.
Please do the following: (1) blog about your thoughts, breakthroughs, questions, etc. regarding your research journey as indicated in the course syllabus before the due date
AND don't forget to
(2) reply to one of your classmate's posts (please refer to the Engl 6401 Assignment Schedule handout for more details about this assignment).
Hopes and dreams? This semester, we hope to not only enhance our abilities to pursue field-specific research topics, but also inform our communication practices in producing effective subject matter/user-centered documents. In particular, we wish to address the question of what it means to conduct research in technical writing and digital rhetoric (TWDR).
By reviewing and applying various modes of inquiry, we gain a better understanding of how to perform, or to be an informed consumer of, research in technical communication.
BONUS: We also become more confident and prepared for research either as a practitioner or scholar!! :)
Why research methods? Note that we rely on research to inform best practices in the field and allow us to move forward, improve our technical communication decisions, and act collectively based on those decisions.
If we understand the wide range of research methodologies in TWDR, we can draw connections between the principles that inform our practices and ultimately become critical consumers and producers of print, digital, and/or multimedia texts.
Finally, I posit that the construction of knowledge within our field is based on multimodal inquiry, current research, and interactive writing principles.
Have a great semester as we all learn together about research methods in TWDR --
Dr. B
My research topic is Zipline Braking Accidents-M. Troy Richardson
ReplyDeleteThere are approximately 6-7 accidents per 100,000 riders on zip lines; over half of those accidents are caused by braking problems. An operator error and the absence of an emergency brake in the landing area contributed to the incidents. I am a zip line designer, builder, retailer, and expert witness in 2002, designed and built the primary and secondary braking system at the Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR), one of few accident-free zip lines. As an expert witness in zipline accident cases, I developed a handheld passive braking zipline trolley and barrel-shaped spring dampening system, with patents pending in 2019 and 2020. In 2021, I began wholesaling my barrel-shaped spring system in 2021. I'm well-known among zipline companies, inspectors, and builders. I will write an article using mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) and literature reviews to encourage better zip line braking systems.
I modified my Lit. review draft and found a different direction. I added tentative ten sources with course correction. My research lead me to meet with two librarians Caleb Ames and Diane Aldrich were extremely helpful with finding sources, citing them, and saving the link to be able to find the resource easier in the future. I highly recommend all make an appointment with a librarian. Diane Aldrich said she was dedicated to our program.
ReplyDeleteGilliam, D. A. (2015). Trade show boothscapes. Journal of Marketing Management, 31, pp. 17–18, 1878–1898. https://doi.org/10.1080/0267257X.2015.1071276
Taylor, J. (2018). A fascinating show for John Citizen and his wife, advertising exhibitions in early twentieth-century London. Journal of Social History, 51(4), (pp. 899–927). https://doi.org/10.1093/jsh/shx047
Batra, R., & Keller, K. L. (2016). Integrating marketing communications: new findings, new lessons, and new ideas. Journal of Marketing, 80(6), pp. 122–145. https://doi.org/10.1509/jm.15.0419
Nelson, R. A., & Kanso, A. (2002). Today’s promotional products industry: the rise of a powerful marketing communication medium. Journal of Promotion Management, 8(1), p. 3 https://doi.org/10.1300/J057v08n01_02
Moorman, C., & Day, G. S. (2016). Organizing for marketing excellence. Journal of Marketing, 80(6), pp. 6–35. https://doi.org/10.1509/jm.15.0423
Kim, T., & Mazumdar, T. (2016). Product concept demonstrations in trade shows and firm value. Journal of Marketing, 80(4), pp. 90–108. https://doi.org/10.1509/jm.14.0160
Hur, S., et. al. (2020). Fair trade advertising: influences of information type and emotional appeal congruency. Journal of Marketing Communications, 26(2), pp. 186–206. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527266.2018.1511626
Taff, D., et. al. (2016). Wilderness in higher education: considerations for educating professionals for the next 50 years. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education & Leadership, 8(1), pp. 3–9. https://doi.org/10.18666/JOREL-2016-V8-I1-7280
Cyphert, D., et. al. (2013). Curricular implications of virtual world technology: a review of business applications. Business Communication Quarterly, 76(3), (pp. 339–360). https://doi.org/10.1177/1080569912475208
Rinallo, D., & Golfetto, F. (2011). Exploring the knowledge strategies of temporary cluster organizers: a longitudinal study of the EU fabric industry trade shows (1986-2006). Economic Geography, 87(4), (pp. 453–476). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1944-8287.2011.01127.x
Rinallo, D. et. al. (2010) Exploring visitor experiences at trade shows. Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, 25(4), pp. 249–258, doi:10.1108/08858621011038207