ABSTRACT
Recently, writing center scholars have begun discussing ways in which the writing center might help facilitate the transfer of writing-related knowledge. However, in order to understand how to do that effectively, we need research to test what are, in some cases, speculations about how the writing center could do this kind of work. Therefore, this chapter discusses the research on transfer, the ways that research effects writing centers, and the ways transfer research can (and should) be conducted in the writing center. The chapter begins with some background and definitions of transfer in general and then moves into transfer as it relates to writing instruction. Then it delves more specifically into writing center work. The chapter ends with discussions of recent transfer research in writing center studies and the possible future of transfer research in the field. The hope is that readers will begin to see the writing center as the perfect place to conduct transfer research and will begin to consider how their own writing centers might be able to aid in the work of transfer.
