This document discusses key concepts in empirical research for writing studies. It defines empirical research as systematic research with a plan and question, not just looking up information. Empirical research produces data that others can examine. The document also distinguishes between quantitative and qualitative research methods. Most writing research uses qualitative methods like interviews and observation rather than quantitative methods involving numbers. It notes that there are few experimental research designs in writing studies and that action research is similar to teacher research.

1. Some Introductory
Terms and Such
English 621 | Fall 2011

2. Assumption #1:
Writing ≠ “you just can
or can’t do it”

3. Empirical Research
• Systematic research with a plan and a question
• Not the same as “looking stuff up” (see
McNealy pgs 6&7)
• Not “Lore”
• Not “faith” and/or “belief,” and that includes
grammar... (see McNealy pg 9)
• Data that others can/could see

4. A crooked chart from McNealy

5. Quantitative vs.
Qualitative
• Can be fuzzy, tricky, matter of definition
• Can be quite intellectually/politically
“loaded” terms (e.g., these two books)
• Quantitative = numbers,
qualitative ≠numbers (basically)

6. Quantitative vs.
Qualitative
• Quantitative methods include surveys,
some kinds of textual studies, etc.
• Qualitative methods include interviews,
observational designs, etc.
• (Most writing research nowadays is
qualitative)

7. A few other research
things....
• There are very few experimental research
designs in writing studies
• “Action” research is similar to Teacher
Research and/or the participatory research
model in Blakeslee and Fleischer
• All of these models are “Empirical”

8. A few other research
things....
• I’m not going to make you do the Blakeslee
Fleischer exercises, but they’re useful
• The references to MacLean and Mohr on
phrasing questions
• Think about some of the ethics early
• (And I like the appendixes in B&F)