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Current Research - Summer 2011 Progress (6 Research Projects)
Last Updated: August 2, 2011

Proj-KisstheGirls (see Research Site)
An adaptation study and ideological critique of the novel "Kiss the Girls" and the subsequent film by the same name.  The paper focuses on the physical setting (the Research Triangle in North Carolina) and the social milieu related to racism within the novel and outside the novel and film. (This paper/article will hopefully include some of my photography as well.)

Progress this Summer:
  • Read novel "Kiss the Girls" by James Patterson.
  • Read related novel and viewed related film ("Along Came a Spider").
  • Conducted literature review to determine theoretical perspective.
  • Read on the particular form of ideological criticism used in the paper.
  • Traveled to Washington DC for notes and photographs (the novel and film both begin in DC, the main character's home).
  • Mapped out locations within novel and film.
  • Outlined paper and gathered additional sources.
Next Steps:
  • Travel to Durham, North Carolina for notes and photographs.
  • Finish paper 
    • Note: This is my main research focus from July 15 to August 31.
  • Submit paper and photographs to the North Carolina Literary Review by August 31, 2011
Online Research Materials: Bookmarks, Maps, Completed Tasks (to be added soon), Current Tasks (to be added soon).

Proj-CYOA (Choose Your Own Adventure)
A study of the story structure of interactive fiction with implications to video game design. The paper focuses on the structure of the popular Choose-Your-Own-Adventure interactive childrens books. 

Progress this Summer:
  • Conducted partial literature review with focus on theoretical perspective and research method.  RQs and method determined.
  • Gathered 63 of the 86 CYOA texts to be analyzed
Next Steps:
  • Gather the remaining CYOA texts
  • Seek NSU research fellow assistance in data collection 
  • Conduct data collection and analysis in October or November of 2011.
  • Write some of paper over winter break 2011/2012.
  • Finish by February 2012.
Online Research Materials: Bookmarks, Completed Tasks (to be added soon), Current Tasks (to be added soon).
Proj-SocialMedia
A study of how U.S. universities in general and communication departments specifically are using social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.).  This is a diffusion of innovations study.  Ev Rogers, author of Diffusion of Innovations, was my advisor and mentor while I worked on my Ph.D. at the University of New Mexico.  This work is done in honor of him.

Progress this Summer:
Next Steps:
  • Seek NSU research fellow assistance regarding some statistics.
  • Present paper at RIT Social Media conference September 29, 2011.
  • Based on feedback, submit paper to journals (including Communication Education) by end of October 2011 or early November 2011.

Online Research Materials: Bookmarks, Completed Tasks (to be added soon), Current Tasks (to be added soon).

Proj-Holmes
A study of how to adapt the Sherlock Holmes novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles, into a video game set in modern day.  This is a continuation of some previous work.
Previous papers have been progress reports.

Progress this Summer:
Next Steps:
  • Finish game (in Inform "language") by November 2011.
  • Rework paper (include further field notes) in December 2011.
  • Submit paper to a communication journal or a gaming journal by 
  • Develop game into an Apple or Android app?
Online Research Materials: Bookmarks, YouTube videos (e.g., set 1), Completed Tasks (to be added soon), Current Tasks (to be added soon), 
Proj-TheHelp (see Research Site)
with Page Laws (Dean, Norfolk State University Honors College)

An adaptation study and ideological critique of the novel "The Help" and the soon to be released film of the same name.

Progress this Summer:
  • Read novel "The Help" 
  • Conducted a partial literature review to determine a theoretical perspective to take in the analysis of the novel and film
  • Gathered and read an extensive amount of materials on the novel and the author (reviews, critiques, etc.)
Next Steps:
Online Research Materials: Bookmarks, YouTube videos, Complete Tasks (to be added soon), Current Tasks (to be added soon), 

Proj-Muslim-AmerTV
with Fran Hassencahl (Associate Professor, Department of Communication and Theatre Arts, Old Dominion University)

A study of the portrayal of Muslim Americans in television dramas following the events of 9/11/2001 using fantasy theme analysis.

Progress:
Next Steps:
  • Based on feedback, rewrite and submit to journals (including International Journal of Intercultural Relations) in September 2011.
  • Continue this line of research.  There are two "spin off" papers, one a more ideological critic of the portrayal of Muslim Americans and the other on the comparison of Muslim Americans to Japanese Americans during World War II. Start these projects early 2012.
Online Research Materials: Completed Tasks (to be added soon), Current Tasks (to be added soon), 

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