ABSTRACT
In the face of a pattern of writing center scholarship that has historically been largely theoretical rather than empirical, we argue that pursuing mixed-methods research is the best way forward for writing center studies to create knowledge and to reach a broader range of audiences. More specifically, we see the combined value of rigorous studies that employ quantitative methods to capture large trends or help us understand large data sets along with qualitative methods to help uncover participants’ stories and experiences—particularly experiences from under-represented students. These practices hold promise to advance writing center research that represents the values of our centers as inclusive and diverse spaces, as dedicated to antiracism activism and critical pedagogy, and as counters to institutional violence and unchecked authority. These values are rooted neither in qualitative nor quantitative methods, but in our beliefs and actions as researchers, the kinds of questions we pursue, and the ways in which the answers to those questions shape future praxis.
