- Last week the trainings and discussions we had cut across the disciplines. How does the interdisciplinary nature of this program, the fact that students are focusing on such a diverse range of projects, help you think about your project and/or your academic interests more broadly?
I think the interdisciplinary nature of this program has allowed me to take a multifaceted approach to the way in which I collect data and define research. For a long time, I viewed research as a component of the STEM field, but I think this program has opened my eyes to how meaningful research extends to the humanities. I am applying this nuance through my own research as I utilize both quantitative and qualitative methods to collect data. I am analyzing publicly available ELA scores to understand how literacy changes in different areas where school resources fluctuate and oral history interviews as a qualitative measure to craft a more complete narrative of my findings. I think the fact that I am able to incorporate a wide variety of research methodologies into my project reflects the beauty of interdisciplinary work and how it leads to a greater understanding of the research question at hand.
- As you begin your individual research projects this week, do you anticipate any challenges in getting started? If so, what are they?
Right now, I am compiling sources for a literature review I plan to write on the existing literature surrounding my research question. However, I also am conducting oral history interviews which is a format I have never worked with. I imagine that there may be some growing pains in getting used to working in that format and so I am developing an interview guide which should make the process easier. I am also pivoting from conducting interviews with students because the NYC Department of Education would not approve it in time which means that I have to create a modification to my Columbia IRB proposal which may require more time and clarification. This should not be a major setback, but it makes the process of finding interviewees and developing my questions a bit slower.