Defining "Research": Undergraduate Perceptions of Research in a Technical Communication Classroom. (January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ross, Derek G.
• Is Part Of: Journal of technical writing & communication. Volume 44:Number 1(2014)
• Page Start: 61
• Page End: 99
• Publication Date: 2014-01
• Subjects: Technical writing -- Periodicals; 808.0666
• DOI: 10.2190/TW.44.1.e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0047-2816

Abstract

This article presents data from a two-part study of student perceptions of research. Fifty-one research proposals are analyzed in order to understand perceptions of research, and results from a survey are analyzed to better understand how students both perceive and articulate their understanding of research. The data show that students assign multiple definitions to the concept of research, and suggest that increased attention to clarifying terminology and identifying student perceptions would facilitate better work.