The goal of this research is pragmatic in nature — to surface questions regarding the new media composition process as well as common fears and frustrations on the part of graduate students regarding producing such work. With such a limited sample size and data set (at least for the initial qualitative components), the resulting findings would be difficult to generalize. Despite this fact, these initial results will be useful in highlighting areas for further exploration and generating a starting point for the development of theory surrounding encouraging new media composition.

In particular, this pilot study allows an opportunity to fine tune a plan for more robust empirical inquiry into why graduate students opt or do not opt to develop new media projects in lieu of traditional written papers. The ultimate goal would be finding ways to make new media composition more accessible to graduate level instructors and students with the hope of increasing the production of “new media scholarship.” Clearly, new media scholarship can be created (and useful) across all disciplines. And, while my research will focus on graduate students within English Studies, there is no reason that graduate students elsewhere in the academy (whether they study humanities, mathematics, or science) could not employ similar methods for sharing their work.

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