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
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Topics
classical rhetoric rhetorical criticism composition theory professional writing empirical research
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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

References (19) · 5 in this index

  1. Haswell (2005)
    NCTE/CCCC’s Recent War on Scholarship
    Written Communication
  2. North S. M. (1987)
    The Making of Knowledge in Composition: Portrait of an Emerging Field
  3. 10.2307/358602
     ↗
  4. Cooper (1997)
    Distinguishing Critical and Post-Positivist Research
    College Composition and Communication
  5. Empiricus S. (1939)
    Sextus Empiricus in Three Volumes: Volume 1: Outlines of Pyrrhonism
Show all 19 →
  1. James W. (1912)
    Essays on Radical Empiricism
  2. James W. (1911)
    The Will to Believe and Other Essays in Popular Philosophy
  3. 10.7208/chicago/9780226458106.001.0001
     ↗
  4. 10.2307/376913
     ↗
  5. 10.2307/j.ctt46nrtw
     ↗
  6. Burton (1973)
    Research in the Teaching of English: The Troubled Dream
    Research in the Teaching of English
  7. 10.2307/358196
     ↗
  8. Guba E. (1994)
    The Handbook of Qualitative Research
  9. Herrington (1989)
    The First Twenty Years of Research in the Teaching of English and the Growth of…
    Research in the Teaching of English
  10. McLeod S. H. (1992)
    JAC
  11. (1989)
    Oxford English Dictionary Online
  12. Geertz C. (2000)
    The Interpretation of Cultures
  13. 10.3102/0013189X033007014
     ↗
  14. MacNealy (1999)
    Strategies for Empirical Research in Writing
    College Composition and Communication
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