LAE 773517 Research: Methodology

Purpose:
Methodology is perhaps the part we most often think of as researchand also the part most contested:
in our field, we need a theory of method (methodology) because not everyone has the same
perspectives on who/what/why/how we should study as researchers.

Audience:
Each time you write about your work (from dissertation to articles to conference presentations) you will
compose a methodology. Some audiences (like your dissertation committee) will have certain broad
criteria in mind; others will have specialized (and different) ideas of what makes a rigorous approach to
research. In this draft, imagine that you are writing to other English Education researchers, though not
necessarily ones who share your commitments. For example, you dont need to explain what qualitative
research is, but you may need to explain why your approach is the best way for you to address your
problem for study.

Of course, this is also writing to learn, and your audience will also be us: your colleagues (including Dr.
Sherry) in LAE 7735. As in previous steps, you should expect to share your work and to read/respond to
others during this assignment.

Process:
For this assignment, you will turn in a Theoretical Framework and Methodology (for more about what is
entailed in these sections, please see our CANVAS site).

Please keep in mind the following guidelines we have already discussed ( 2015-2016 Ann M.
Lawrence):
Theoretical Framework
Defines the object of study (or the focus of the inquiry) by making two moves: conceptualizing the
object of study and operationalizing the object of study.
o Conceptualizing: How have others defined your object of study? How will you define it
similarly or differently?
o Operationalizing: What specific practices have others identified and described that
constitute evidence of that concept? In your study, what will be evidence?

3 INs for Theoretical Framework
INtroduction: What is my research topic in this text?
INsertion (Conceptualizing the Object of Study): From what inquiry perspective do I define my
research topic in this text?
o How is this inquiry perspective on my research topic derived from a review of contributions
and limitations of previous theoretical work, perhaps including earlier definitions of my
research topic?
o What does this inquiry perspective foreground and background about my research topic?
INterpretation (Operationalizing the Object of Study): In this text, what constitutes evidence of my
research topic, as I have defined it?



Methodology
Describes and justifies the study design by which the object of study was investigated.
Addresses methodological decisions related to the research site(s), the study participant(s), the data
source(s), the data-collection procedure(s), the data-analysis procedure(s), and (if necessary) how
the position of the researcher may have influenced the studys implementation.
o Site Selection: When and where was the study conducted?
o Participant Selection: Who, besides the researcher(s), participated in the study?
o Data Sources: What kind(s) of data were generated?
o Data Collection: How were the data generated?
o Data Analysis: How were the data organized, selected, and interpreted?
o (Researcher Positionality: How did the researcher(s) influence the study?)

3 INs for Methodology
(e.g., for the Data Collection sub-section)
INtroduction: How did I generate data during my research project?
INsertion: What are relevant details related to my data-collection procedure(s)?
INterpretation: Given the purpose of my research project (my problem for study/research
question(s)), why was my choice of data-collection procedure(s) appropriate and advantageous?
Given the purpose of my research project (my problem for study/research question(s)), what were
limitations of my choice of data-collection procedure(s)? How did I attempt to address these
limitations in my study design, turning weaknesses into strengths?


Rubric:
Criterion 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0
Complete: Does the methodology describe and justify decisions related
to site(s), participant(s), data source(s), data collection, data analysis,
and (if necessary) researcher positionality?
Aligned: Is the methodology described appropriate and advantageous
for the problem for study?
Relevant: Does the methodology thoroughly describe (using the 3 INs)
the relevant details for each sub-section, connecting them back to the
problem for study?
Rigorous: Does the methodology make reference to previous research,
methodological traditions, or other criteria for evaluating studies of
this type to justify the decisions?


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Lawrence, A. M. (2016). Living with Writing.