Technical Communication Quarterly Oct 2020

Navigating Messy Research Methods and Mentoring Practices at a Bilingual Research Site on the Mexico-U.S. Border

Beau Pihlaja Texas Tech University ; Lucía Durá The University of Texas at El Paso

Abstract

Using a dissertation research project at a transnational site, this pedagogical process piece explores the experience from both the student and mentor perspectives. We discuss challenges gaining access to the research site and navigating frequently-acknowledged-but-rarely-described affective, relational dynamics that disrupt qualitative research in everyday technical and professional communication. To assist students’ and their mentors’ engagement with these dynamics, we suggest heuristics derived from critical reflection on our own tactical responses to these research and pedagogical challenges.

Journal
Technical Communication Quarterly
Published
2020-10-01
DOI
10.1080/10572252.2020.1790665
Open Access
Closed
Topics
empirical research

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (3)

  1. Ghimire (2024)
    Understanding Transnational Technical Communication in Technical and Profession…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Pihlaja (2022)
    Everyday Ethics at the Border: Normative Ethics for the 21st Century
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  3. Fraiberg (2021)
    Introduction to Special Issue on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Communication …
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication

Cites in this index (15)

  1. Pihlaja (2020)
    Inventing Others in Digital Written Communication: Intercultural Encounters on …
    Written Communication
  2. Durá et al. (2019)
    Positive Deviance as Design Thinking: Challenging Notions of Stasis in Technica…
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  3. Meloncon et al. (2019)
    Empirical Research in Technical and Professional Communication: A 5-Year Examin…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. Swarts (2016)
    Composing Networks
    Written Communication
  5. Hea et al. (2016)
    Silent Partners: Developing a Critical Understanding of Community Partners in T…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
Show all 15 →
  1. Walton et al. (2015)
    Values and Validity: Navigating Messiness in a Community-Based Research Project…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Agboka (2014)
    Decolonial Methodologies: Social Justice Perspectives in Intercultural Technica…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  3. Haas (2012)
    Race, Rhetoric, and Technology
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  4. Blakeslee (2009)
    The Technical Communication Research Landscape
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  5. Rude (2009)
    Mapping the Research Questions in Technical Communication
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  6. Spilka (2009)
    Practitioner Research Instruction
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  7. Koerber et al. (2008)
    Qualitative Sampling Methods
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  8. Cook (2002)
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    Technical Communication Quarterly
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    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
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    Technical Communication Quarterly
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CrossRef global citation count: 6 View in citation network →

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