QUESTION: Quantitative Research on GN in the Classroom

[KellyAnn Bonnell]

There's quite a bit of material out there regarding the use of GN's and Comics in literacy education. However, I need research along a different vein. I'm looking for quantitative research on the benefits of Graphic Novel and Comic usage in classroom in other content areas, like the recent post about the benefits in a college science class. If you've got it send it my way. Thanks.

[Ryan Goble]

Hi KAB - So what audience are you working with that you feel the need to have quantitative data on this? Must be an interesting group of folks! :)

[KellyAnn Bonnell]

Actually its an OST organization out of country whose educational system isn't as "open" to the use of GN's as we are which is a little frightening when you think about how much we struggle for acceptance in some places. They've got a host of qualitative data but feel they're not making effective inroads with it. I had initially presented a case statement that began with quantitative arts ed supported with qualitative reports on GNs  but they are resistant to the idea so I get to do the digging.

[Stergios Botzakis]

I actively look for such pieces and I have not found any for any content area really. Most articles talk about their features and link them to curriculum but do not have the empirical pieces in yet. Are you looking for a literature review or some other justification project?

[KellyAnn Bonnell]

I think I'm going to have to challenge the academics at ICS to get on the ball and produce some.

[Jay Hosler]

I would love to see more quantitative research in this area! My research now focuses on assessing the use of comics in the classroom and what the specific benefits are. I am also the director of or college's Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Center this year and can attest that it is a hard thing to measure in a systematic and controlled fashion with an appropriate sample size. Anyone who would like to help me test my photosynthesis comic, let me know!