Working on the Research Question
I've just finished reading through Creswell's Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Traditions. Typical to Creswell, he provides excellent and clear guidance coupled with good examples. He may be faulted for presenting templates for things, but these formats help enormously. I feel as if he provides a solid floor beneath my feet upon which to stand. Ultimately, my research question and research design will need to stand upon its own, but Creswell helps in this process.
From Creswell, I believe I have a good phrasing of my overarching research question:
What theory explains the role of reflection within the activity of writing?
To specify that question more:
What theory explains the role of teacher-prompted rhetorical reflection within the activity of writing for freshman writers (at Texas Tech University)?
Creswell talks also about “subquestions,” and how these subquestions take the form of either issue questions or topical questions. As Creswell defines them, “issue questions address the major concerns and perplexities to be resolved” and “topical questions cover the anticipated needs for information” (101). He mentions that in a grounded theory study the topical questions may refer directly to the aspects of coding steps followed in grounded theory. Here is a version of my research question with the related subquestions:
What theory explains the role of teacher-prompted rhetorical reflection within the activity of writing for freshman writers (at Texas Tech University)? What are the general categories to emerge in open coding? What central phenomenon emerges? What are the causal conditions? What specific interaction issues and larger conditions have been influenced (to include the writer's subsequent draft)? What are the resulting associated strategies and outcomes?
***I should note that the phrasing of these subcategories is pretty much word for word from the Valerio (1995) study quoted by Creswell as an example on page 104. I would need to rephrase this material somehow.***
Creswell also offers a script for the purpose/problem statement. I will fill out his script for my study:
The purpose of this grounded theory study is to understand the role of reflection for freshman writer's within the activity of writing. At this stage in the research, reflection will generally be defined as “teacher-prompted, rhetorical reflection”--that is a pedagogical activity prompting freshman writer's to reflect upon their writing and writing process between drafts.
OK—Thanks Mr. Creswell. This is a nice start to help me revise my research question.Working on the Research Question
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1 comment:
I think you're wise to narrow your 4 questions down to 1, as we discussed. It makes sense in terms of grounded theory (being open to new findings), but it also simplifies and focuses your entire study. Narrowing the question has long-range benefits, too, such as being able to convey the topic of your dissertation in articles and presentations and conversations more readily.
By "theory," if I'm reading you and Creswell correctly, you're asking for characteristics and underpinnings behind them. What causes what appears to be X. The term "teacher-prompted rhetorical reflection" is a good one. You have come a long way on that concept, and that is a very detailed term.
Of course, your question assumes nothing has changed even though the curriculum has changed. It really isn't "at Texas Tech University" when the approach has been modified. But, that's always the case--curricula is ever-changing. And, ultimately, findings are rooted in time AND place. Can't really say what you've found here directly applies or describes what is happening elsewhere, but you can strongly suppose or suggest correlations that are triangulated.
The subquestions each make sense. These will definitely, as you say, help you in your coding from general to specific. I agree--rephrasing to be your own thinking is important.
Sounds like Creswell was perfect for moving you forward. Let's get the reading list solidified, finish the preproposal, and pass them around to your committee.
Nice work!
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