Kelsi-Ann Tullinen - ENGL 3450

I have learned the importance of the research conducted as a technical writer. The results of the research conducted can have a lasting impact on society. I have also realized the need for the IRB. It would be so easy to unintentionally create a study that could be negatively impactful on the participants. When the topic of research is abuse or another type of traumatic event, it can further traumatizing for the victims to bring up the event or discuss information surrounding the trauma. The main thing I learned is that we must conduct ourselves and our research responsibly because we control the impact our research has. 

      My next step in my current organizational plan is to finish revising my literature review according to the feedback I received. After, I am going to try to condense my literature review as much as possible to be able to use it in my research proposal. My topic is an easy one to design a study around. In order to design a pamphlet, I need to understand what information is meant to be included and I can only know that if I received responses from the correct population. My main goal is to design a study that is ethically acceptable and won't be damaging to the participants. I believe that the perspective of survivors of CSA is the most important in order to understand the correct way to educate and prevent further abuse.

      My research gap was fairly major. I had so many sources I could use for the effects of CSA, survivors talking about the issues with therapy, understanding where the issues are with the justice system, etc. I struggled finding sources on rhetoric around CSA though. I feel that CSA is still such a taboo topic that people avoid and still don't know how to talk about. Parents from all cultures has reservations about how to discuss this information with their children. I believe that it would be so beneficial for our society in preventing CSA and helping survivors if it was easier to educate society from in each age group. I think there is a massive gap is rhetoric and educational documentation designed to educate children. I think this would be a great topic for a Ph.D. dissertation or some sort of research study that could make an impact on the situation.

 I honestly have no idea what I want to research yet. I took a course with Dr. Barry and Dr. McMurrin and I had thought about potential topics for my capstone that I guess I could use for this course. I had considered doing the topic of the use of rhetoric in pamphlets and discussion around Childhood Sexual Abuse and how to spot symptoms or behavior changes. I specifically wanted to focus on the use in schools elementary through high school. I also considered doing that same focus but amongst woman resource centers or places like that. My problem with this topic is I didn't really know how I would study it or interview people because it's such a sensitive topic. I'm completely open to any topic. To be honest, I'm fairly intimidated by the concept of the capstone doing research like that, but I'm also excited.