Dr. Robert Runté:
Research Interests

Current Projects: Evaluation I was involved in the first year of the Alberta Study of Student Assessment, but am not currently working on evaluation research. Sociology I have several sociological research projects on the go in collaboration with my wife, Dr. Mary Runté (Management Faculty) including one on retasking as an alternative management strategy to deskilling, which, when combined with the long hours culture, leads to the potential for the significant exploitation of knowledge workers. We are also interest in issues of work/family conflict and the colonization of the family sphere by corporate 'family-friendly' programs and 'culture of fun' management practices. Sociology of Education My wife and I are involved in analyzing blog data on public perceptions of the appropriateness of taking students out of school for family activities, such as a family vacation. (Preliminary findings suggest significant polarization on this issue which we believe reflects attitudinal differences between social classes.) Popular Culture I am studying identity formation and career ladders in avocational subcultures, using science fiction fans as the primary example. Cyberculture and I am interested in the ethical and methodological implications of using data from blogs, Facebook, Twitter and other social media. Teaching and the Internet I am working on a paper examining the importance of timing in teachers' adoption of new communications technology.

My other research interests include: Test Construction Cyberculture Pedagogy of the Web The Sociology of Education Professionalism (as an ideology/sociological construct) Teacher Professionalism (issues of professional control and autonomy) Canadian Speculative Fiction (as literature)

Page last updated Sept, 2009