Research Methods Syllabi
Course Title: TC 516, Research Methods
Semester Submitted: Spring 2009
University of Washington
Submitted by: Jan Spyridakis
Professor and Chair
Department of Technical Communication
jansp@u.washington.edu
Course Description: introduces students to research methods used in technical communication. Students examine the relationship between theory and research, hypothesis testing, experimental designs, modes of observation, sampling, validity, and data analysis and interpretation.
In TC 516, students learn to:
Construct a research problem from relevant literature
Identify relevant variables
Create hypotheses
Design a research study
Select and apply appropriate data analysis methods
Write a research report
Construct and administer questionnaire
(Prerequisite: introductory statistics course or permission of instructor.)
View Syllabus
Course Title: Research Methods in Technical Communication
Semester Last Used: Fall 2006
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Submitted by: Gretchen Haas
Assistant Professor, Technical Communication
English Department
gretchen.haas@mnsu.edu
Course Description: “Researching and Writing Technical Reports,” or “Research Methods” for short, is a course designed to teach you how to use a number of different research methods utilized within the field of technical communication and how to document the results of research. This course places a premium on applied learning so while you will read about research methods and read articles that report research, you will actually gain experience using each of the research methods we address in class. During the course, you will also have the opportunity to propose and conduct a larger-scale research project. The research methods this class addresses include secondary source research, interviews, observation-based research (from ethnographic and usability perspectives), surveys, text-based research, and experimental research. Students who complete this class should have a high level of confidence applying for research grants and proposing conference presentations, especially for the Undergraduate Research Conference (URC).
View Syllabus
Course Title: English 5389: Field Methods in Technical Communication
Texas Tech University
Submitted by: Dr. Rebecca J. Rickly rebecca.rickly@ttu.edu
Semester taught: Fall 2004
Note - Because this is a URL to a site it may be updated at any time.
Check the file for information on when it was last used.
File format: HTML
Course description (abbreviated): Technical communicators have
established their own research methods for use in software design, in
the production of training materials, in the creation, use, and testing
of educational activities, and so forth. This course will serve as an
overview to these methods. We will read about them, examining the
methods' differences in terms of theoretical bases; data collection and
analysis; and design work. For each method, students will design and
critique research questions/problem statements; research instruments.
Each student will create an annotated bibliography concerning an aspect
of these methods. Using one method, each student will conduct a
small-scale study and report findings..
View
Syllabus
Course Title: ENC 6938 Research Methods in Texts and Technology
University of Central Florida
Submitted by: Paul Dombrowski, Assoc. Prof. pdombrow@mail.ucf.edu
Semester submitted: Spring 2002
File format: HTML
Course description (abbreviated): Texts and Technology explores
and researches the connection between digital technologies and texts of
various sorts including visual, multimedia, hypertext, interactivity,
simulation, and of course, words.
View Syllabus
Course Title: ENGL 602 Research Design in Rhetoric and Professional
Communication
Iowa State University
Submitted by: Dorothy A. Winsor dwinsor@iastate.edu
Semester submitted: Spring 2001
File format: HTML
Course description (abbreviated): As social theories of
writing have emerged, the field has recognized the value of field
research for studying literacy-in-context. This practicum provides an
opportunity for new researchers to examine the philosophies that ground
these qualitative methods, to reflect on ethical matters that arise in
field research, and to design and conduct a small-scale
observation-based study of literacy in an educational or workplace
setting.
View Syllabus
Course Title: WS5320: Feminist Research
Methodologies
Texas Tech University
Submitted by: Dr. Rebecca J. Rickly rebecca.rickly@ttu.edu
Semester submitted: Spring 2002
Note - Because this is a URL to a site it may be updated at any time.
Check the file for information on when it was last used.
File format: HTML
Course description (abbreviated): An interdisciplinary study of
methods, analyses and critiques used by feminist scholars to study
feminist issues within and across a range of traditional disciplines.
Prerequisite: WS 5310 or consent of instructor.
View
Syllabus
Course Title: English 5363 Research Methods in Composition
Texas Tech University
Submitted by: Dr. Rebecca J. Rickly rebecca.rickly@ttu.edu
Semester submitted: Spring 2002
Note - Because this is a URL to a site it may be updated at any time.
Check the file for information on when it was last used.
File format: HTML
Course description (abbreviated): English 5363, Research
Methods
in Composition, will introduce you to a variety of research methods and
methodologies used in Composition and Technical Communication and
Rhetoric research. While this course does serve as an overview, we will
concentrate primarily on work that has influenced our broad field for
the past ten years. The work you do
in this course will give you an orientation which will prove to be
valuable as you select further research courses for your dissertation
research. In subsequent, more focused research courses, you'll build
upon the knowledge base you'll get in 5363.
View
Syllabus
Course Title: ENG 602 (01): Quantitative Research in Writing
New Mexico State University
Submitted by: Professor Stephen A. Bernhardt sbernhar@nmsu.edu
Semester submitted: Fall 1999
Note - Because this is a URL to a site it may be updated at any time.
Check the file for information on when it was last used.
File format: HTML
Course description: This course concentrates on issues in
designing and conducting empirical
research, particularly studies driven by data. It is intended for
students contemplating dissertation
work. The emphasis is first on coming to terms with what topics or
issues are worth investigating and
then how to frame well defined research questions. Questions of
appropriate method are seen to
derive from the topic and questions identified, as well as emerging in
the conduct of inquiry. This
course can usefully complement a series of courses that includes
English
548 (Research in Written
Composition) and 601 (Qualitative Research). The course satisfies the
PhD program requirement for
a course in statistics and data analysis.