Researching tutorial conferences

[Mickey Harris <harrism@mace.cc.purdue.edu>]

> me. What would happen if we called for several descriptive studies of 
> WCs--taped conferences, analyzed transcripts, triangulation by multiple 
> researchers etc? Would the WC community be in favor of it? Would anyone 
> be interested in doing it?
> 
> 
> Jim Bell				Ph. (604) 960-6365

Wow, Jim, I'm fascinating by that challenge you just tossed us. Sure,
count me in...as soon as I can figure out how we can jump in. I guess
it might start as a discussion group for any of us who are interested.
Hmmmm, so how do we plunge in? In short, yes, I'd be very (make that
VERY!) interested. In addition to all the reasons you cite, I'm
intrigued by the notion  that this is a way that we can get a handle
on more than what goes on in our local site. Whenever we talk about
writing centers, it's never clear to me how much of what we say is
merely reporting local conditions...or the local conditions of a few
of us who have publicly shared what goes on where we live. So, such a
study, to get past this localizing factor, would have to include many
sites, right? 

Jim, could you spell out a little more (or maybe just free write here)
what you think would go on in such a study? That would be a start.


-- 
Mickey Harris
harrism@mace.cc.purdue.edu