1. Presentation by
Gisela Martiz
Qualitative Research II

2. writing
literary scientific
Fiction Plain
Rhetoric subjectivity Fact (true) objectivity
(false) language

3.  The new rhetoric makes two assumptions:
 All writing shares common rhetorical devices, and appeals
to audience
 Each field has its own set of literary devices and rhetorical
appeals
 “Science does not stand in opposition to rhetoric; it uses it”
(Richardson, 1990,p.15).
 “Styles of writing science are not fixed or neutral but reflect
the historically shifting domination of particular schools or
paradigms” (p. 16).
 “Science writing is a socio-historical construction that is
narratively driven and depends upon literary devices not just
for adornment but cognitive meaning” (p.13).

4.  Synecdoche- In quantitative research we study parts (sample)
to represent a whole (population)
 Metaphors use theory as a building
 Metaphors organize social scientific work work and affect the
interpretations of the facts (p.19)

5.  What can we learn from the role of George
Spindler in Wolcott‟s trajectory in ethnography
and how does it relate to our research?
“Don‟t generalize. The heart of ethnography is
singularity” (Wolcott, 2010, p.17).
“An ethnographer never generalizes to other
cases. One might, in interpretation, compare
specific other cases, or hypothesize about the
broader scope of phenomena” (p.19).

6.  How would ethnography fit within your research?
 What elements would make your research study an
ethnography?
 How can ethnography help you achieve your
research purposes?

7.  Boundeness
“…all studies are bounded, and the broader their
boudnaries, the less use e can make of them to
understand what is happening „on the ground‟” (p.36)
 Themes
Themes are ways to put patterns of behavior together to
get at the heart of the mattr, and that I the ethos of the
culture” (p.39).
 Time
Fieldwork takes time, writing it up takes longer than
expected, and arriving at a satisfactory conclusion of what
it all means may seem to take forever.

8.  How should we write our research?
 Who is our audience…..(besides the
dissertation committee, of course)?

9. 1. Richardson, L. (1990). Writing Strategies: Reaching Diverse Audiences. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publications
2. Anyon, J. (Ed.) (2008) Theory and educational research: Toward critical social explanation.
New York: Routledge
3. Wolcott, H. (2010). Ethnography Lessons: A primer. Walnut Creek, CA: Left Coast Press