Re: WC Research

["Jeanne H. Simpson" <csjhs@ux1.cts.eiu.edu>]

Neal

One of the patterns I see is that the research seems to be local--that is,
it focuses on a single center.  So in answer to your question, what would
I like to read, it would be some work on patterns among writing centers.  

I'd like to know what elements are most common in writing center mission
statements.  I'd like to know what the administrative structures are
relative to kinds of institutions, such as research universities or
community colleges.  

While I am not sure that the scientific method is always directly
applicable to what we do, one of its elements, duplication of results, we
seem not to do enough.  If a piece of local research yields X result at
one institution, it would be helpful to know if it yields the same or
similar result at another institution.  We tend to generalize rather
heavily from a insufficient base of evidence.  

I would like to see some carefully structured research on the effects of
writing centers on retention.  We are pretty sure the effect is positive,
but hard data to support that belief is all too scarce.  Such a study,
conducted over several institutions, would be the strongest possible
argument for better funding and support for writing centers.


Also, a common thread I see in discussion here is that we believe/wish we
affect the pedagogy of our non-writing center colleagues.  Research to
document that we do or do not have that effect would be helpful for our
cause also.


Jeanne Simpson
csjhs@eiu.edu