Short answer
Design learning resources and writing support tools that provide clear definitions, practical examples, and opportunities for students to practice and self-assess their use of cohesion and coherence.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter) (2019)
- Method
- Mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) interpretive study using semi-structured interviews and text analysis of student essays.
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Students often struggle to articulate their understanding of cohesion and coherence, and this difficulty is reflected in their academic writing, indicating a disconnect between theoretical knowledge and practical application. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2019 study published in Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter). Using Mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) interpretive study using semi-structured interviews and text analysis of student essays., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Design learning resources and writing support tools that provide clear definitions, practical examples, and opportunities for students to practice and self-assess their use of cohesion and coherence.
Bridging the Gap: Student Metalinguistic Understanding of Cohesion and Coherence in Academic Writing
Students often struggle to articulate their understanding of cohesion and coherence, and this difficulty is reflected in their academic writing, indicating a disconnect between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter) · 2019
Key Findings
- 01Students found it difficult to verbally articulate their understanding of cohesion and coherence, often conflating the two concepts or focusing more on coherence-related ideas.
- 02Students struggled to produce cohesive and coherent academic texts.
- 03There were both agreements and disagreements among teachers and tutors regarding their metalinguistic understanding and teaching perceptions of cohesion and coherence.
Application
Design takeaway
Design learning resources and writing support tools that provide clear definitions, practical examples, and opportunities for students to practice and self-assess their use of cohesion and coherence.
How to apply
When designing writing support tools or educational modules for academic writing, incorporate explicit instruction on cohesion and coherence, using clear language and varied examples. Include activities that prompt users to explain these concepts in their own words.
Project actions
- 01When researching user understanding of a concept, consider using interviews to get rich qualitative data.
- 02Analyze user output (like essays) to see if their understanding matches their practical skills.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Triangulation of data sources (students, teachers, tutors) and methods (interviews, text analysis) provides a robust understanding.
- +Focus on situated realities offers practical insights into the learning environment.
Limitations
The specific linguistic concepts studied (cohesion and coherence) might not directly apply to all design projects. The context of EFL writing is also specific.
Reliability & validity
The use of multiple data sources and methods (triangulation) enhances the study's validity. Reliability would depend on the consistency of interview protocols and text analysis coding.
Think critically
How might the observed discrepancies in teachers' and tutors' understanding of cohesion and coherence impact the consistency and effectiveness of their instruction, and how could a design solution address this?
Design Principles
"Design for clarity of concept and application by explicitly addressing user's metalinguistic understanding."
Understanding how users (students, in this case) perceive and apply complex linguistic concepts is crucial for effective design of educational materials and pedagogical approaches. This insight highlights the need for design interventions that not only teach these concepts but also help users develop the metalinguistic awareness to use them effectively.
What This Means for Your Design
Students often don't fully understand what makes their writing flow well (cohesion and coherence), and this shows in their essays. Teachers and tutors also have different ideas about how to teach it.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the need for your design, highlighting the gap in user understanding of a particular concept or skill.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
Research indicates that users often struggle with metalinguistic understanding of key concepts, such as cohesion and coherence in academic writing, leading to difficulties in practical application. This highlights a critical design opportunity to develop interventions that not only teach concepts but also foster deeper user comprehension and articulation.
Source
Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter)
Omani undergraduate students', teachers' and tutors' metalinguistic understanding of cohesion and coherence in EFL academic writing and their perspectives of teaching cohesion and coherence
journal · 2019
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about bridging the gap: student metalinguistic understanding of cohesion and coherence in academic writing?
- Design learning resources and writing support tools that provide clear definitions, practical examples, and opportunities for students to practice and self-assess their use of cohesion and coherence. Evidence: Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter) (2019).
- Why does "Bridging the Gap: Student Metalinguistic Understanding of Cohesion and Coherence in Academic Writing" matter for design?
- Understanding how users (students, in this case) perceive and apply complex linguistic concepts is crucial for effective design of educational materials and pedagogical approaches. This insight highlights the need for design interventions that not only teach these concepts but also help users develop the metalinguistic awareness to use them effectively.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Design learning resources and writing support tools that provide clear definitions, practical examples, and opportunities for students to practice and self-assess their use of cohesion and coherence.
- What were the main findings?
- Students found it difficult to verbally articulate their understanding of cohesion and coherence, often conflating the two concepts or focusing more on coherence-related ideas.. Students struggled to produce cohesive and coherent academic texts.. There were both agreements and disagreements among teachers and tutors regarding their metalinguistic understanding and teaching perceptions of cohesion and coherence.
- What research method was used?
- Mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) interpretive study using semi-structured interviews and text analysis of student essays..
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2019 journal from Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing writing support tools or educational modules for academic writing, incorporate explicit instruction on cohesion and coherence, using clear language and varied examples. Include activities that prompt users to explain these concepts in their own words.
- What are the limitations?
- The study is context-specific to Omani EFL undergraduate students and may not be generalizable to all EFL contexts.