Writing Studies Research in Practice: Methods and Methodologies

by Lee Nickoson (Editor), Mary P. Sheridan (Editor), Gesa E. Kirsch (Foreword)

An essential reference for students and scholars exploring the methods and methodologies of writing research. What does it mean to research writing today? What are the practical and theoretical issues researchers face when approaching writing as they do? What are the gains or limitations of applying particular methods, and what might researchers be overlooking? These questions and more are answered by the writing research field’s leading scholars in Writing Studies Research in Methods and Methodologies . Editors Nickoson and Sheridan gather twenty chapters from leaders in writing research, spanning topics from ethical considerations for researchers, quantitative methods, and activity analysis to interviewing and communitybased and Internet research. While each chapter addresses a different subject, the volume as a whole covers the range of methodologies, technologies, and approaches—both old and new—that writing researchers use, and examines the ways in which contemporary writing research is understood, practiced, and represented. An essential reference for experienced researchers and an invaluable tool to help novices understand research methods and methodologies, Writing Studies Research in Practice includes established methods and knowledge while addressing the contemporary issues, interests, and concerns faced by writing researchers today.

310 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting (not that I even know what that is), but solid book. I enjoyed many of the chapters, though Bob Broad's chapter on empirical qualitative research and Richard Haswell's chapter on quantitative methods were especially fascinating. There was a big gap when I wasn't reading, so some of the earlier chapters probably deserve similar shoutouts. I'll have to revisit some of them. (Good thing I made some annotations!)

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent little compilation, although one that I would assign to graduate students rather than undergrads--it seeks to complicate accepted writing practices rather than introduce them. (For introductory classes, even into the masters, I'd still go with Johanek, I think.)

A few highlights I might include in various course packets, at least:

Doug Hesse's "Writing Program Research" which includes the great research into how many students, can, in fact, write a decent sentence at his institution as well as other useful bits for assessment.

Asao B. Inoue about including racial distinctions in research, because I think it's important (although I think the N is scandalously low)

Haswell on Quant Methods, because Haswell.

Christina Haas et al on combining methods of discourse analysis and literacy studies.


Heidi McKee and Porter on general principles of internet research.

I donno, as I'm making these highlights I also like Canagarajah's bit on autoethnography and its pitfalls and Nickoson's Teacher Research. The book veers heavily towards feminist ethnography, probably because of the interests of the editors, so there's a lot of blurring of lines that blur towards those methodologies, but a lack of balance doesn't mean that what is included isn't worthwhile.