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"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!


Comments

  1. 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.

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  2. I spent some time talking through my ideas and questions with Professor Bacabac and that really helped guide my focus. It really helps!

    As 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.

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