Journal of Business and Technical Communication Apr 2009

Mapping the Research Questions in Technical Communication

Carolyn D. Rude Virginia Tech

Abstract

Agreement about research questions can strengthen disciplinary identity and give direction to a field that is still maturing. The central research question this article poses foregrounds texts, broadly defined as verbal, visual, and multimedia, and the power of texts to mediate knowledge, values, and action in a variety of contexts. Related questions concern disciplinarity, pedagogy, practice, and social change. These questions overlap and inform each other. Any single study does not necessarily fall exclusively into one area. A mapping of a field's research questions is a political act, emphasizing some questions and marginalizing or excluding others. The emphases may change over time. This mapping illustrates reasons for the tensions between the academic and practitioner areas of the field. It also points out their shared research interests and opportunities for future research.

Journal
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published
2009-04-01
DOI
10.1177/1050651908329562
CompPile
Open Access
Closed
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