Blog Post #3: Research Gap

There are a lot of gaps within my topic, so the main gap seems to be that there is a lack of information. My topic is the effectiveness of the design of instruction manuals. I struggled to find sources that pertained to only one area within this topic, but after meeting with Dr. B I was able to realize that taking "chunks and nuggets" from different sources would be quite interesting. This would provide different context from a variety of areas within my topic. Whether the instruction manual is educational or consumer related, the gap is the lack of research available when it comes to the rhetoric and self-efficacy of instruction manuals. By taking bits and pieces from all sorts of different sources I am able to fill the gap having to do with rhetoric and self-efficacy. Dr. B also helped me to examine different key words in my search for resources. By searching and looking in areas I had not previously thought of, I am able to fill the gap. This method also helps me to compare and contrast different types of instruction manuals and what makes them effective. 

Comments

  1. Dr. Florence Elizabeth BacabacOctober 14, 2020 at 11:12 PM

    Hi Samantha,

    I love the angle you're taking at this point in regard to your selected topic. Indeed, I can see the need for more investigation with regard to how rhetorically effective these different types of instruction manuals are, a topic that is really rife for research within the context of PTW. Keep pursuing this inquiry and am pretty sure it will bring in more info that'll influence the direction of your research proposal!

    Best,

    Dr. B

    ReplyDelete

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