Research Plan

Research Plan

Statement of purpose
In my research project, I hope to show/discover how taking up space and using space during a tutoring session affects tutoring female students.

By observing their body language and use of personal space when interacting with the tutor, I hope to show how this affects tutoring.


Detailed statement of your research question
How do spatial differences between tutor and female students affect tutoring?
What role does personal space play in tutoring sessions with female students?
What roles do cultural differences play?If any?

List information needed/Questions you might want to explore:
-background information on why spatial difference is important during interaction
-How spatial difference can affect a tutoring session
-information on how females take up/use personal space while interacting
-what certain actions can mean in order to draw some conclusions
-what gestures are they using?
-try to determine why they move away/come closer?
-data from observing tutoring sessions
-what spatial differences can mean in different cultures?
-what role do cultural differences play?
-Does spatial difference affect the effectiveness of tutoring sessions?How?

Preliminary list of sources:
These are a few sources that I have found I will definitely be looking for more information pertaining to my topic.

Gender Differences in Communication." The Ladies Room. 21 Aug. 2003. 6 Nov.
2008 .

This website gives information on the differences in body language between males and females. It gives a list of differences in body language, speech patterns, facial expressions and behaviors. It also gives a helpful list of links that relate to the subject.


Holden, Scott. Tutoring Communication:Verbal and Nonverbal Interpersonal
Gestures and Techniques. 22 Apr. 2005. 9 Nov. 2008
.

This article talks about the different types of interpersonal communication and gives examples of types of nonverbal and verbal communication found in writing center conferences. It also gives explanations on what these actions mean.


Magwood, Jamerson. Tapping Into the Gender Communication Gap. 11 Nov.
2008 .

This paper talks about the differences in body language between males and females. More importantly, it describes body language during interaction between tutor and student. At the end of the article it gives 4 examples of tutoring sessions.

Rester, Carolyn H. The Effects Of Sex and Content on Students' Interpretation of Teachers' High Immediacy Messages. Louisiana State University. 11 Nov. 2008.

This dissertation gives information on how messages are received in interactions. It gives information on different message interpretations based on gender. (see page 24-29).

Plan for Gathering Information
I will have to find more sources and find more information to become more familiar with my topic. Then I will collect data from my observations and figure out what they mean. My information will rely heavily on my observations. The feedback form that is filled out by the student after the session could also be relevant.