Rickly, Rebecca "Messy Contexts: Research as a Rhetorical Situation"

From RhetorClick

This piece aims to educate graduate students and professors on the importance of rhetorically applying research methods so that we may better teach, conduct and critique research in the digital age (377). The article starts with claim that digital research is messy and so are required research courses. Rickly then delves into the specific complexities of research and the teaching of research and the vitality of metaphors in understanding (382). Rickly claims metaphors can be problematic and enlightening (384). Ricky then says the methods used to study technology do not exist in a vacuum (385). Ricky concludes with claiming that we should approach research rhetorically. Ricky even gives a guideline for research, but reminds us that research should be considered in the rhetorical sense that it is situational.