Week 2, Post 5: Progress Report 1

Date: 28-May 2008
To: Dr. Jan Holmevick
From: Katie Goergen

Introduction
A usability test of the Office of Sponsored Programs website and the Limited Submission Program will be conducted in order better understand how users use these tools. This study will reveal usability flaws and provide recommendations forboth of these interfaces which will in effect improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the pre-award submission phase at Clemson University.

Work Completed
As of now, I have an established framework for what I want this project to be as well as constructed materials for the study which I can now go back and refine. I have constructed the current situation and analyzed the rhetorical situation so that I can better understand my primary, secondary and tertiary audiences, as well as those who will serve as gate keepers. I have rhetorical tools to guide me as I begin writing the proposal itself.

Next Steps
I want to start on the literature review but I have to say, because I am doing a project not a thesis, I'm not exactly sure how to approach the literature review section. Simply because the project is unique to Clemson (at least at this current time). So I would like to start working on the section of the literature review that addresses the need, explains past research that has addressed similar problems, and finally reveals the gap in those projects that I plan to address to create a more comprehensive study. At least I would like to start working on this section as I do have preliminary data and research relating to this topic.

However, I think what will be more plausible is to begin piecing together the methodology and the time table (as the two really do go hand-in-hand). By next week I would like to have a detailed outline of the methodology and time frame in which to have these different components completed. Once I have these parts done, I will feel comfortable in approaching faculty members as potential committee members.

Conclusion
I think I may be getting further ahead at this point, but again, I have been thinking about this concept for months and feel as though the rhetorical foundation on which I have built most of my research when it comes to proposal writing will aid me in moving a little further ahead, on to such sections as the methodology. Also, having conducted a usability test before, I feel comfortable forging ahead a bit because I really would like to get my classmates opinions and feedback on the instruments I am producing in conjunction with the proposal, as the instruments will be fundamental in persuading the Associate Research Deans to accept the proposal.