Research Portfolio Post #3: Philosophical Wagers

Ontology is the study of being. More specifically, it examines and dissects the reality we live. In contrast, methodology provides methods and procedures to acquiring knowledge about reality. In Abbott’s book Methods of Discovery: Heuristics for the Social Sciences, he discusses the concepts thoroughly.

As a researcher, there is a clear fundamental debate over whether or not I can be an objective observer of the social world. I believe that is inevitably impossible to be objective when observing the social world because I am a part and co-producer of the social world and therefore that reality. This is because the current reality that you and I existing in is a product of every living thing on earth. Therefore, how could you truly observe objectively if you are thinking, breathing, moving, acting, talking, walking, etc. This is essentially the entire premise behind Constructionism, as discussed in Chapter two of Abbott’s Methods of Discovery: Heuristics for the Social Sciences. According to Abbott, Constructionist theory is grounded in the idea that the social process is made up of people who construct their identities and selves in the process of interaction with one another (Abbott, 2004). Therefore, if the entire “social process” is founded on the principle that we are creating the social process itself, then researchers will never be able to be truly objective. Because in observing, you are contributing to reality, or the social world, and are therefore not objective.

I believe researchers can investigate and make claims about any phenomena or social norm that they have experienced in their own lives. Meaning, researchers can use past experiences as examples of social norms or phenomena. Obviously researchers can make valid claims about things they’ve observed themselves. But also, I think researchers can create valid claims using observations from others. Through surveys and discussions researchers can discover new social phenomena that they may never have experienced first-hand. By utilizing a plethora of sources, they can determine if it was a pattern and therefore important enough to further research.

 

Andrew Abbott, Methods of Discovery: Heuristics for the Social Sciences, New York: W.W.          Norton & Company, 2004.

Research Portfolio Post #2: Mentor Meeting

My faculty mentor’s name is Dr. Rachel Robinson. I met with her for about 30 minutes on Wednesday, September 5. As I mentioned previously, I was interested in investigating a correlation between increased prevalence rates of HIV in climate-change-impacted areas. I introduced my research interests to her, and we essentially discussed the probability of me being able to complete a research project on HIV and climate change given the resources at my disposal. We both agreed that given my location, it would be more interesting and beneficial to investigate a topic in the city of Washington.

She proposed that I perform interviews in D.C. rather than use already-existing data from other countries/states. Therefore, I decided to change my research interest. I’d like to further understand how schooling can impact an adolescent girl’s likelihood of contracting HIV. It is a well-established notion that young girls are at high risk for contracting HIV in their life time. Specifically, young women in the southern Africa region. In fact, adolescents in this region account for the greatest percentage of AIDS-related deaths (Govender, K., Masebo, W. G. B., Nyamaruze, P., Cowden, R. G., Schunter, B. T., & Bains, A., 2018).

However, since meeting with Dr. Robinson,  a previous professor of mine, Dr. Yamanis (and also a mentor figure) suggested I analyze the data that she is currently collecting about adolescent girls in Tanzania. I will be reviewing the survey/interview questions this week, and determining if I’d like to utilize this data source. This would give me the opportunity to use current and relevant data, perfect for my research interests.

I’m also interested in looking into the possibility of doing a comparative case study of adolescent girls in Tanzania and adolescent girls in D.C.. However, I’m not entirely sure what this would entail, as I’d have to create survey questions, and recruit participants. Also, because the HIV epidemic in D.C. is not generalized like it is in Tanzania, the disease likely doesn’t impact young girls like it does to those in Tanzania. I need to read about HIV in D.C. and how public education may influence their likelihood of contracting HIV.

Govender, K., Masebo, W. G. B., Nyamaruze, P., Cowden, R. G., Schunter, B. T., & Bains, A. (2018). HIV Prevention in Adolescents and Young People in the Eastern and Southern African Region: A Review of Key Challenges Impeding Actions for an Effective Response. The Open AIDS Journal12, 53–67. http://doi.org/10.2174/1874613601812010053

Research Portfolio Post #1: Research Interests

When I began to ponder a topic to research this year, I knew I’d want to investigate something that had to do with HIV. Last year, I studied HIV in sub-Saharan Africa in my First Year Seminar, and then worked on my professor’s research paper second semester.  I was intrigued and fascinated by HIV research. So for Olson’s, I decided to continue with this theme, but in a different way. I wondered if there was a correlation between global-warming-caused natural disasters and increased HIV prevalence rates.  I knew that disease lingers in places where there are high rates of poverty. I also knew that natural disasters are followed by severe poverty/destruction. Therefore, I was intrigued by the likelihood of climate change impacting HIV prevalence rates in areas following natural disaster.

Throughout the summer, I searched for articles on this subject matter, but found nothing. Therefore, I decided I needed a different approach. I could investigate geographical locations most impacted by climate change, and look to see if their HIV prevalence rates have increased every 2 years since 2005.

The one puzzle that I’m dealing with right now, is how to collect the data and what type of data should I collect. I think I’m also struggling with which locations would be most impacted by climate change. I believe my meeting with my mentor will help me work through this. I’d like to possibly focus on one or two types of disasters (drought, hurricanes, etc.) and possibly compare them. For example, Should I consider flooding? Should I solely investigate HIV prevalence rates, or should I also consider other infectious diseases like tuberculosis? These are all questions I will be considering in the future.