"Sometimes I'll start a [research project], and I don't even know where it's going. I just hope I find it along the way."
I wouldn't exactly say I have "revision" plans as much as I would like to say that I have plans to actually write the research design portion of my proposal. I am struggling to pin down exactly how to approach my research questions. I want to gather some quantitative data, but what I am most interested in is the qualitative data. I want answers to the "why" in why people perceive certain typefaces as adding or detracting from a text's credibility.
I didn't think that this was such a huge question until I sat down and actually started thinking about how to find the answer. In preparing my rough draft outline, I had a very vague idea of creating mock pages from a variety of news outlets, but I'm not certain that will be focused enough.
As I continue trying to build/decide on my research plan, I will be working on sizing down my literature review and shaping up the other portions of my proposal (those unrelated to my research methods).
For now, I am open to any input from my fellow TechComm research colleagues. And, if any of you are struggling like me, at least you'll know you're not alone!
I appreciate these thoughts. I feel like I'm very early in the revision process, and the peer review on the outline helped, but I have a lot of content to generate before I know more precisely where I will go in regard to revision.
ReplyDeleteI spent some time talking through my ideas and questions with Professor Bacabac and that really helped guide my focus. It really helps!
ReplyDeleteAs far as figuring out the "why" - I wonder if people will be able to answer that question with any sort of useful data. Why do I like chocolate? Because it tastes good. That's highly subjective. Perhaps you need to put qualifiers in the question - make them multiple choice. Does this font give you a sense of a, b, c, d, write in...?
I look forward to seeing how your project blossoms! It's a pretty cool subject.