Research Methods – Creative Challenges
Throughout Research Methods in Professional & Technical Communication, students explore the methods, ethical practices, information literacy perspectives, rhetorical strategies, and discourse conventions that form the foundation of knowledge-making practices for scholars, designers/creatives, and empiricists. By engaging in a series of five "creative challenges," students have the opportunity to progress from understanding theoretical concepts to applying practical skills in research design and execution.
The course is structured around five foundational methodologies:
- Scholarly and Theoretical Research (Textual Research)
- Design and Creative Methods
- Empiricism
- Qualitative Methods
- Quantitative Methods
- Mixed Methods
Through these creative challenges, students will:
- Visualize methodological communities and their epistemological assumptions
- Analyze and critique published PTC articles through rhetorical, textual, and citation analysis
- Evaluate research methodologies for flaws, ethical considerations, and epistemological alignment
- Develop an original research proposal
- Conduct and present original research (optional for those seeking an A grade).
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.
Creative Challenges – Writing Assignments
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 “scaffolded”; 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.
Key Terms, Concepts, and Research Methods in Professional and Technical Communication
This goal of this challenge is to introduce you to the vocabulary, concepts, epistemological foundations, and research methods of the major Methodological Communities that inform contemporary knowledge-making practices.
How to Critique Research Questions, Reviews, and Citations
The goal of this challenge is to deepen students’ 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 epistemological assumptions and methodological communities shape research questions, literature reviews, citations, and overall discourse conventions within the PTC field.
How to Critique Research Methods
The goal of this challenge is to develop students’ 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’ 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.
How to Develop an Effective Research Proposal
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.
How To Effectively Present Your Research Findings (Optional)
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—from understanding key concepts and epistemological foundations of various methodological communities, to analyzing and critiquing published studies, to developing their own research proposals—students 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:
- Execute a research project aligned with the methodological practices and epistemological assumptions of their chosen community.
- Communicate findings effectively in a genre appropriate to their audience and research topic, showcasing their understanding of discourse conventions and rhetorical strategies.
- Present their work to peers, reflecting the collaborative nature of knowledge-sharing in professional and academic settings.
- Critically reflect on their research process, including the use of AI tools, and situate their work within ongoing scholarly conversations in their methodological community.
This final challenge thus encapsulates the course’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.
