Egocentric Reading: Using Literature to Support Your Own Research

By Dave Harris

When we notice egocentrism, it is usually a bad thing: who likes the know-it-all who thinks only of themself? But lack of egocentrism is also bad: we need to know where we stand on issues; we need to trust our own knowledge enough to commit to projects and tasks, and to commit to words on the page. I want to emphasize the importance of egocentrism in reading as a crucial factor in using the research literature effectively, and how writing is an effective tool for building the right kind of egocentrism.

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Writing Productivity Tip: Block Double the Time and Commit to Half

TAA member David Stehlik, an associate professor of Management and Leadership at the University of St. Francis, shared his approach to increasing writing productivity during TAA’s August 2024 Conversation Circle on the topic of productivity:

“I block double the time and commit to half. So, if I think I could write it in two hours, I book a full morning/afternoon, and then I commit to getting half of it done. It’s more realistic. When I’m on the ball, the productivity is energizing. When I’m not, it’s less debilitating.

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2025 TAA Conference Bookstore Featured Book: ‘Contracting for Services in State and Local Government Agencies’

Contracting for Services in State and Local Government Agencies: Best Practices for Public Procurement, Third Edition  by William S. Curry, describes research based best procurement practices for state and local levels. This textbook, recipient of TAA’s Textbook Excellence Award, is suggested for graduate or undergraduate courses. The best practices are based on nationwide research conducted from 2006 to present.

Purchase in the 2025 TAA Conference Bookstore

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Three Strategies to Motivate Yourself to Write

By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD

To be happy involves feeling satisfied with the progress you are making toward your life goals. If you are a writer, completing writing projects is likely part of those goals. Therefore, you feel good when you sit down to write. However, I bet there are days when you don’t feel like writing, even if you know it will ultimately bring you joy. So, how can you motivate yourself on those days?

Here, I share three strategies that can motivate you to write, especially when you’re not feeling up to it.

Break down a big task into small tasks

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Cengage Group Announces First Half Fiscal Year 2025 Results

Cengage Group, a leading global education and technology company, reported its financial results for the second quarter and first half of Fiscal Year 2025, ended September 30, 2024.

Adjusted Cash Revenue for the first half of Fiscal Year 2025 was $841 million, flat against a high comparative which benefitted from earlier ordering and favorable timing of several large deals. Adjusted Cash EBITDA for the first half of Fiscal Year 2025 was $323 million, an increase of 8 percent over the first half of Fiscal Year 2024. Operating cash flow was $128 million, more than double the $60 million in the prior period.

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Welcome to TAA’s Newest Column: Dear Dr. Noelle

By Noelle Sterne, PhD

Welcome to Dear Dr. Noelle!

Unashamedly, I have modeled this column on the popular “Dear Abby” advice column but aimed at us more evolved intellectuals. The column is for you graduate students, new academic doctors, and professors who have questions that burn in your minds even when you’re binging on a Netflix series.

Fair game: anything pertaining to a dissertation, article, monograph, or book: intellectual, expressional, procedural, psychological, emotional, relational, maddening.

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