Victoria Purcell-Gates
Encyclopedia
Victoria Purcell-Gates is an internationally-recognized researcher and professor in the field of literacy
education. Using both qualitative
and quantitative research
methods, Dr. Purcell-Gates' research interests include the social and cultural literacy practices experienced by both children and adults.
and both an M.A. and Ph.D. in Language and Literacy from the University of California, Berkeley
.
, Harvard University, the University of Cincinnati
, U.C. Berkeley, and the University of British Columbia
. As professor and researcher at both Harvard and the University of Cincinnati, she was director of literacy centers in which both children and adults were provided with reading instruction. While in Ohio, in 1989, Dr. Purcell-Gates was approached by an urban Appalachian woman, Jenny who was concerned about her son. Donny, age seven was caught in a cycle of family illiteracy and his mother desired Dr. Purcell-Gates' assistance. This encounter acted as the impetus for an ethnographic study focusing on the cycle of low literacy. She also questioned how an individual's cultural literacy experiences influence print literacy development. This research led to the Grawemeyer Award
winning book, "Other People's Words: The Cycle of Low Literacy" (1997). Dr. Purcell-Gates was the National Reading Conference (NRC) president for 2005-2006. http://nrc.wiki.educ.msu.edu/Interactive+Timeline Later, Dr. Purcell-Gates accepted the position of Tier 1 Canada Research Chair for Early Childhood Literacy at the University of British Columbia. She is also the principal investigator for the Cultural Practices of Literacy Study (CPLS). http://cpls.educ.ubc.ca/ Within a socio-cultural framework, researchers question how schools address the needs of marginalized communities.
Additional publications include chapters within books and peer-reviewed journals. http://educ.ubc.ca/faculty/vpurcell-gates/
Literacy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
education. Using both qualitative
Qualitative research
Qualitative research is a method of inquiry employed in many different academic disciplines, traditionally in the social sciences, but also in market research and further contexts. Qualitative researchers aim to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such...
and quantitative research
Quantitative research
In the social sciences, quantitative research refers to the systematic empirical investigation of social phenomena via statistical, mathematical or computational techniques. The objective of quantitative research is to develop and employ mathematical models, theories and/or hypotheses pertaining to...
methods, Dr. Purcell-Gates' research interests include the social and cultural literacy practices experienced by both children and adults.
Education
Victoria Purcell-Gates earned a B.A. in English Education from Northern Arizona UniversityNorthern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 39 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.As of...
and both an M.A. and Ph.D. in Language and Literacy from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
Career
Dr. Purcell-Gates taught at Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, Harvard University, the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
, U.C. Berkeley, and the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
. As professor and researcher at both Harvard and the University of Cincinnati, she was director of literacy centers in which both children and adults were provided with reading instruction. While in Ohio, in 1989, Dr. Purcell-Gates was approached by an urban Appalachian woman, Jenny who was concerned about her son. Donny, age seven was caught in a cycle of family illiteracy and his mother desired Dr. Purcell-Gates' assistance. This encounter acted as the impetus for an ethnographic study focusing on the cycle of low literacy. She also questioned how an individual's cultural literacy experiences influence print literacy development. This research led to the Grawemeyer Award
Grawemeyer Award
The Grawemeyer Awards are five awards given annually by the University of Louisville in the state of Kentucky, United States. The prizes are presented to individuals in the fields of education, ideas improving world order, music composition, religion, and psychology...
winning book, "Other People's Words: The Cycle of Low Literacy" (1997). Dr. Purcell-Gates was the National Reading Conference (NRC) president for 2005-2006. http://nrc.wiki.educ.msu.edu/Interactive+Timeline Later, Dr. Purcell-Gates accepted the position of Tier 1 Canada Research Chair for Early Childhood Literacy at the University of British Columbia. She is also the principal investigator for the Cultural Practices of Literacy Study (CPLS). http://cpls.educ.ubc.ca/ Within a socio-cultural framework, researchers question how schools address the needs of marginalized communities.
Publications
Victoria Purcell-Gates has authored or co-authored books including Other People's Words: The Cycle of Low Literacy (1997), Print Literacy Development: Uniting Cognitive and Social Practice Theories (2006), Now We Read, We See, We Speak: Portrait of Literacy Development in an Adult Freirean-Based Class (2000), Cultural Practices of Literacy: Case Studies of Language, Literacy, Social Practice, and Power (2007), and Creating Authentic Materials and Activities for the Adult Literacy Classroom: A Handbook for Practitioners (2003).Additional publications include chapters within books and peer-reviewed journals. http://educ.ubc.ca/faculty/vpurcell-gates/
Awards
- Victoria Purcell-Gates was inducted into the International Reading Association's Reading Hall of Fame http://www.readinghalloffame.org/index.html on May 4, 2005.
- Oscar Causey Award by National Reading Conference for Outstanding Contributions to Literacy Research, 2004.
- Noted Scholar Appointment by University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Summer 2002.
- University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Education. For originality, creativity, feasibility and scope of potential applicability of ideas that help make the world a better place. Award given for Other People’s Words: The Cycle of Low Literacy (Harvard University Press, 1995). $150,000. 1996.
- Most Promising Researcher. Awarded by the National Council of Teachers of EnglishNational Council of Teachers of EnglishThe National Council of Teachers of English is an American professional organization dedicated to "improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education...
. 1987. - Finalist in the Outstanding Dissertation of the Year Award competition. Awarded by the International Reading AssociationInternational Reading AssociationThe International Reading Association is an international professional organization that was created in 1956 to improve reading instruction, facilitate dialogue about research on reading, and encourage the habit of reading....
. 1987. - Promising Researcher Award for dissertation research. Awarded by the National Council of Teachers of English. 1987.
- Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation for 1985-1987 in Phi Delta KappaPhi Delta KappaPhi Delta Kappa is an US professional organization for educators. Its headquarters are located in Bloomington, Indiana. It was founded on 24 January 1906. Phi Delta Kappa also had a youth organization, called Xinos, girls, and Kudos, guys.-Membership:Currently, membership consists of students,...
District II. Awarded by Phi Delta Kappa on Evaluation, Development and Research. 1987.