About Rojeh Dayan
Hi! My name is Rojeh, and I’m from New York. I’m currently a sophomore studying economics at Columbia University.
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Recent Comments
Joe, really interesting work! I’m intrigued to see the implications of AI on the journalism industry, and I think your research sheds light on the current landscape and how this may play out in the future. I also completely agree on how leadership can be both an individual experience yet a shared one as well.
1. One of the biggest challenges I've encountered in my interview-based research is finding people who are willing, able, and interested in talking to me. I've already sent out at least 70 or 80 cold emails, but the vast majority of people haven't responded--and many of those who have responded don't have the time or availability to speak with me. This challenge has forced me to become more creative in the way I reach out to people--I've started soliciting potential interviewees from the people who have responded to me, and I've expanded my search to include not only journalists but also academics working in the field of journalism and communication studies. This process has expanded the breadth of my research, and slightly reshaped the focus: instead of using interviews as a way to extract particular facts and information (as in investigative journalism), I'm using them to form a conceptual base that can help frame the questions I'm asking about AI integration.
2. CLIO has remained an incredibly valuable tool that has enabled me to quickly access vast resources of information--much of my scholarly background research has stemmed from articles, journals, and databases that I originally found on the service. In particular, I've started using Leadership Connect, which allows me to quickly access the contact information of popular journalists who have worked for major publications: this has made the grind of searching for emails on the internet that much easier (although it has not eliminated it entirely, since many freelance and online journalists are not covered).
Joe, I resonate with your comment about CLIO’s value. Much of my literature review and sources have also stemmed from various types of sources I found on CLIO. I especially find value in the fact that you can find both physical and electronic resources, particularly since you can use the BorrowDirect service to request physical books from other institutions.
1. When beginning my research project, I had assumed that the community I am researching was well-received in Israel since it is a Jewish community but expected that the US may be a different story. However, I came to learn that the Jewish-Iranian community was, and even still is today although to a lesser extent, discriminated against in Israel. This was a surprising fact that contradicted my initial assumptions and has enriched my perspective of the topic at hand, allowing me to more greatly appreciate the efforts individuals have made to preserve their Iranian heritage and reclaim their ancestry.
2. CLIO has proved particularly useful to me as it allows me to access a wide breadth of information with just one search. It is especially useful since it contains various types of sources, such as physical books and e-books. Moreover, topic-specific databases have proven to be useful as well.
1. My research excited me mostly because it is very topical and is part of the larger conversation of the future of advocacy, criminal reform, discrimination and recidivism. As a human rights major this is a subject I hope explore more in my academic exploration. I hope to write a thesis for my major and this research might inspire that venture.
2. My research matters because the world is slowly transitioning into openly having conversations about structures that perpetuate injustices. I believe intersectionality and it’s role in the legal system is emblematic of the larger issues that exist in most social, political and economic spaces and the nuance it will take to overcome them. I would like to contribute to the larger movement of acknowledging discrimination in its multiple facets.
Roli, I think that the fact that your research is part of the larger conversation is especially compelling. Moreover, you mention that you would like to explore your subject to a greater extent throughout your academic journey which is something that I hope to do with my topic as well. I think that this program is a great opportunity to not only engage in important research about something that interests us but also a place where we learn the next steps we would like to take in academia.
1. I hope to produce and theorize my findings from my research in some form of a write up, whether that be in the form of a paper or not. This research topic has various aspects that can be analyzed, and so I hope to continue to research this topic throughout my academic journey, possibly by taking classes or by conducting independent research later on.
2. By researching Jewish Iranian-American assimilation and the formation of a dual identity, we can come to better understand assimilation, and thus this research is crucial for fostering inclusive and cohesive communities. It can also provide a glimpse into the psychological and social processes involved in developing an identity. Additionally, this may provide insight into the experiences of other cultural groups facing similar challenges, having important implications in the areas of cultural integration and identity formation across communities. Lastly, understanding the factors that influence assimilation can allow for better policy development and can guide initiatives more advantageously. All this compels me, especially because I come from this community and therefore I would love to learn more about it and contribute to it.
1. My research heavily hinges on the experiences of vulnerable demographics which inherently makes it a delicate subject to navigate. I am maneuvering around this by ensuring that I maintain impartiality in my research and allow the stories of those most affected by multiple discrimination to be told in the most accurate ways possible.
2. My research is structured in a way that allows for discrimination to be assessed through different perspectives such as people going through the court system, lawyers, judges and legal experts. This allows me to get a holistic picture of the systemic structures that reinforce discrimination and allow it to continue to thrive.
Roli, I certainly relate to your first point of maintaining impartiality in your research. This is something I am keeping in mind as well as I conduct research, ensuring I employ objective and balanced analysis since I am part of the community I am researching. Your second point is also interesting as you are able to see alternative viewpoints through the structure of your research. I am also considering alternative viewpoints to foster a more holistic understanding of the complexities and nuances surrounding my community.
1. One ethical issue is ensuring that there is proper representation of the community I am researching and avoiding stereotyping. One way I am responding to this ethical issue is by reflecting on my own assumptions and acknowledging their potential impact on the research process. Another ethical issue is ensuring I employ objective and balanced analysis since I am part of this community. To respond to this, I consider multiple viewpoints by seeking diverse sources of information, allowing me to present a balanced analysis and avoid bias.
2. Yes, I have considered alternative viewpoints, which enriches the research project by fostering a more holistic understanding of the complexities and nuances surrounding the Jewish Iranian-American community and their affiliations with other countries. It helps to challenge preconceived notions and uncover new insights I may not have considered.
1. The interdisciplinary nature of this program is incredibly useful to help me think about my project and research goals. As someone whose research primarily deals with STEM topics, I found it incredibly interesting to learn about others' projects, which helped me gain a more comprehensive understanding of various research topics and active research areas. By having the change to learn about different approaches, methodologies, and ways of thinking, the interdisciplinary nature of this program can help broaden my knowledge base and inspire new ideas for my own research.
2. I think one of the many important research strategies and lessons that has resonated with me is our discussions with the librarians. I found that the various resources they presented and walked us through were very helpful to incorporate into our research project. For example, I am finding Zotero a very useful tool to keep track of developments in the project in an organized fashion. I hope to continue to make use of these resources as my project garners more complexity in the following weeks.
I completely agree Manan. I have also found it incredibly useful to learn about others’ projects as it has allowed me to look at my project differently, helping me think about my research in a different light. I think this is particularly interesting since my research deals with humanities topics, while yours deals with STEM, yet we both share this common perspective. I also think our sessions with the librarians have been essential, and those sessions have remained front and center for me this week. Similarly, I find that Zotero is an incredible tool that I plan on employing as my research continues.