My goal for this CURE is to strengthen the quantitative component of my English 2400: Composition II course. Throughout the semester, my students investigate a specific community issue by collecting interviews or observations, conducting surveys, and reading secondary research. In previous iterations, the survey data has been thin. Students typically relied on  Google Forms, which did not always provide the depth we wanted. 

Laura, in one workshop, gave me the suggestion to create uniform survey structures that might allow for better data comparison across the class. When everyone uses the same system, I expect it will be easier to teach data interpretation and engage in peer review.

I do feel like I am facing the same learning curve as my students. I am investigating how to effectively utilize Qualtrics and decide which specific features provide an advantage over Google Forms. I need to spend time figuring out how these tools work before I can develop the assignment further.

Ultimately, I’m hoping these robust survey tools work with the qualitative part in a meaningful way. In the past, I’ve combined these components in one unit. Keeping them separate will allow students to see how each method tells its own story about the world