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Postmodern Research Design
Purpose
Research
in the social sciences and humanities has often mimicked scientific paradigms
in which researchers position themselves to objectively explain controlled
experiences and other phenomena. Postmodernists, especially those in the
social sciences and humanities, recognize that research is an interpretative
and, therefore, rhetorical act. As a result, a researcher who adopts this
philosophical position has responsibilities both to their audiences and
their participants. We will discuss postmodern perspectives of research
and discuss whether they are conducive for doing research with L2 writers.
Before Class
- Read Li "Composing cultures in a fragmented world" [L2WR]
- Read Parks "Qualitative research as heuristic" [L2WR]
- Read DePew & Miller [Computers and Composition 22.3]
- Read Thatcher [Computers and Composition 22.3]
Activity I: Understanding Postmodern Methodologies
In four groups, you will have ten minutes to answer the following questions about the following readings (Li, Parks, DePew & Miller, Thatcher):
- What is the author's argument? (What philosophical stance does the author take on the production of knowledge?)
- Based upon the context of the article, what paradigm is the author responding to?
- Is this argument useful outside L2 writing contexts? Why is it particularly useful to the study of L2 writers? Explain.
Discussion: Why Question Objectivity?
We will discuss the following:
- What questions do you have about the readings for this week?
- What should the researcher's role be in a study ? the objective observer or the active advocate? Why? In what situations is one position more suitable than the other?
Activity II: Workshop on Design
Use the latter part of the class to work on outlining your research design. You can work individually or bounce your ideas off of your peers. Consider using one of the two graphic organizers to help you organize your thoughts: