Mitski Avalōx - ENGL 6401-50 Research Methods

In producing a sound research design plan proposal, I learned that one needs to be thorough in order for others to understand and replicate your instructions. The most challenging part of this was developing the research design. The first part of this process involved heavy reading to understand and develop a literature review that grounds research in our already established theory. After that, we had to refine our research methods and understand the qualitative and quantitative aspects of what we were proposing. These processes have taught me as a future technical communicator and rhetorician that being thorough in our writing helps us be more understandable to the layman.

For my research proposal revisions, I plan to clarify the scope and strengthen the connection between my research questions, methods, and broader social justice framework. I’m going to refine my methods section by explicitly linking the use of autoethnography, literature review, and iterative thematic grouping to my research goal of understanding how HB 261 impacts student belonging at Utah Tech. I also want to expand on the ethical considerations of conducting research under restrictive laws, making my rationale for anonymity and data protection more transparent. Finally, I’ll revise my introduction and significance sections to emphasize how this project not only contributes to scholarship in Technical and Professional Communication but also serves as an act of resistance within higher education systems constrained by anti-DEI legislation.