10.03 Research Plan and Evaluating Surveys

We started class with some writing to develop your research projects. You wrote some drafty writing to answer the 5 prompts in the previous post. (See: Developing a Research Plan).

You shared your ideas for your projects and got started on your blog post for next Tuesday (listed at the end of this post).

Evaluating model research studiesDuring the second part of class we evaluated the study on texting.  We noticed that the beginning of the essay defines the problem.  The author's next move was to present the "pro" and "con" research on the effects of texting on writing.  The following section set up her methods: her overall approach to collecting and analyzing data.  The final section presented findings.

Our evaluation of her essay's form: In our discussion we pointed out that the paper would have been stronger with a more detailed presentation of her data (results) followed by a conclusion which discusses her answer to her research question in light of her data.

The study used three approaches for data collection: interviews with teachers, interviews with students, and analysis of written texts by students. 

Content of surveys for students and teachers

Students
How long have you been texting?

How often do you text?

 Do you notice yourself using textspeak in your texting/formal writing?

(suggestion = forward some texts)

 What types of abbreviations/how often

What do they think should be done to prevent textspeak in writing?

 

Teachers
Are you a texter?

Do you believe texting is impairing student writing?

Do teachers notice the effects of texting in student writing?

Is texting positive or negative?

What do you think should be done to keep students from using textspeak in writing?

 

Analysis of student writing
essays were analyzed for common acronyms used in texting

**essays were not analyzed for any of the positive effects of texting noted by researchers

 

Class assessment of this study:

We raised questions about the subject selection (is choosing friends the best idea?); the quality of the surveys (some questions were leading, needed more questions); the surveys should have been included in the study as appendices; the student writing might have been analyzed for more than just the presence of acronyms. 

Good work on this!

For next week:

Read: Rhetoric of Teacher Comments on Student Writing  Robin Martin

Blog 9: Develop your research plan.  Write into each of the 5 prompts.  At the end of your plan: list what you need to do to get started on your project;  list of what you need from me, let me know if you want another conference.

Good class & see you next week.