Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 2009

Composition Studies, Professional Writing and Empirical Research: A Skeptical View

Dana Lynn Driscoll Purdue University West Lafayette

Abstract

This article builds upon the work of Richard Haswell's “NCTE/CCCC's Recent War on Scholarship” by providing an alternative framework for empirical inquiry based on principles of skepticism. It examines the literature relating to empirical research and argues that one of the issues at hand is the perceived link of empirical research to positivism, which clashes with the dominant social constructivist paradigm. It draws upon classical rhetoric and the work of radial empiricist William James to formulate an alternative framework for empirical research based on skeptical principles.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2009-04-01
DOI
10.2190/tw.39.2.e
Open Access
Closed
Topics
rhetorical theory composition theory empirical research professional writing multilingual writers

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

  1. LaFrance et al. (2021)
    Fingerprinting Feminist Methodologies/Methods: An Analysis of Empirical Researc…
    College Composition and Communication

Cites in this index (5)

  1. Haswell (2005)
    NCTE/CCCC’s Recent War on Scholarship
    Written Communication
  2. MacNealy (1999)
    Strategies for Empirical Research in Writing
    College Composition and Communication
  3. Cooper (1997)
    Distinguishing Critical and Post-Positivist Research
    College Composition and Communication
  4. Herrington (1989)
    The First Twenty Years of Research in the Teaching of English and the Growth of…
    Research in the Teaching of English
  5. Burton (1973)
    Research in the Teaching of English: The Troubled Dream
    Research in the Teaching of English
Also cites 6 works outside this index ↓
  1. 10.2307/358602
     ↗
  2. 10.7208/chicago/9780226458106.001.0001
     ↗
  3. 10.2307/376913
     ↗
  4. 10.2307/j.ctt46nrtw
     ↗
  5. 10.2307/358196
     ↗
  6. 10.3102/0013189X033007014
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 1 View in citation network →

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