Improvisations: Methods and Methodologies in Lifespan Writing Research

Improvisations provides readers with insights and options as they develop new lifespan writing research projects or seek to re-orient existing projects to incorporate a lifespan lens. In Part 1 of this edited collection, contributors consider research methodologies that have been adapted to the particular demands of lifespan writing research, with each methodology given two chapters: one that outlines the process of taking up the methodology, and another that provides a detailed example of the methodology in action. In Part 2, contributors suggest new methodologies for lifespan writing research and highlight challenges that this line of inquiry presents as an ethical and socially conscious research agenda. These chapters, representing both established experts and new voices in writing, literacy, and education research, will be of use to graduate students and novice researchers, accomplished researchers pivoting to this area of study for the first time, and others who want to learn more about lifespan writing research.

Ryan J. Dippre is Associate Professor of English and director of the College Composition Program at the University of Maine, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in writing and writing pedagogy. In addition to studying writing through the lifespan, he also studies writing program administration and the teaching of writing. He is the author of Talk, Tools, and Texts: A Logic-in-Use for Studying Lifespan Literate Action Development and the co-editor of Approaches to Lifespan Writing Research: Generating an Actionable Coherence. With Talinn Phillips, he serves as co-chair of the Writing through the Lifespan Collaboration and co-editor of the Lifespan Writing Research book series at the WAC Clearinghouse. He lives in Maine with his wife and son.

Talinn Phillips is Professor of English at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. With Ryan Dippre, she serves as co-chair of the Writing through the Lifespan Collaboration and co-editor of the Lifespan Writing Research series at the WAC Clearinghouse. She teaches undergraduate writing courses and graduate courses in rhetoric and composition, including Research Methods. In addition to her work in lifespan writing research, her scholarship investigates graduate writing development and faculty/consultant development to support graduate writers.