My experience with academic research ended at internet, database and library searches. This course showed me there is much more to academic research methods and data collection. Along with the readings, my exposure to research methods included a better understanding of qualitative and quantitative research. I was also able to complete IRB training and understand how to work ethically with human subjects.

 

The most challenging part of the course was coding the interview transcripts and survey responses from Dr. Matson’s law school writing research. Although I currently have no plans for in-depth academic research, the coding I learned could be useful to analyze responses to surveys and feedback in other professional situations. For example, I might apply qualitative coding to customer surveys or comments and responses to social media posts.

 

Also in this course, I completed an Annotated Bibliography on collaborative learning and writing. The journal articles and research materials were located using available electronic tools including the Ottenheimer Library searches. Lastly, through the course I honed my ability to cite sources using the MLA style guide.

 

Included here is the coding work completed for Dr. Matson’s research and the Annotated Bibliography.  ​