I’d like my dissertation to look at quantitative data related to student use of online educational network technologies and sucess in writing classes: that is if my committee will agree.
I’ve heard from a few colleagues – and at least one technology guru – that I should look at actual writing and do pre and post tests of authentic writing. Eventually I will – but that’s not the research I need to do first.
Everyone understands that writing today involves technology – in the product and in the process – but I want to recognize in my research that success in writing involves more than coding lexical items in conventional syntax – it also involves crafting educational identities and finding one’s voice, it involves negotiating new and fluid cultural rules, it involves making friends with one might have an authentic audience for one’s writing, it involves peer feedback, establishing trust, complaining about teachers and having fun.
It has been thoroughly documented how difficult – if possible – it is to control an experiment on live humans for all the different linguistic input between a pre and a post test. In order to perform any meaningful analysis of authentic writing in order to examine the effects of technology – a monumental amount of research needs to be done on the specific context of the population.
Also, meaningful change on core educational skills like reading and writing happens over time. No intervention so far has had drammatic effect in less than a semester or even year, so what conclusions we gather over said intervention’s effect is suspect.
One challenge is the bias against quantitative research among English teachers. I agree with an old business teaching colleague / reverend who used to say “statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is interesting, but what the conceal is vital;” however, that doesn’t make swimwear irrelevant or useless. And while skinnydipping may be a more natural and authentic experience, I wouldn’t do it in a river or lake without going in first with a suit. I’ve been in more than my fair share of ponds and rivers, and the first time you go in one should always wear a suit – and I recommend foot coverings as well. It may slow down your swimming, but cutting yourself or slipping on rocks can be worse.
