Karen L
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at University of Texas Austin (UT Austin)
Expertise
society and politics, social psychology, discrimination, political psychology, intergroup relations, race and ethnicity, inequality, social justice, attitudes, criminal justice, racism and anti-racism
Bio
I am a sociology professor who is passionate about studying politics and society! I am interested in questions like: How do stereotypes and misinformation shape our political landscape? What factors shape discrimination against different social groups? Why are Democrats and Republicans becoming increasingly polarized? How does social media impact political opinions? And what strategies are successful in helping to reduce racial prejudice? These are just some examples of questions that fascinate me but I'm here to delve into any and all questions that ignite YOUR curiosity about the political and societal dynamics of the United States or any other nation across the globe. Some background about me! I grew up in a little town in Maryland, then moved to Korea when I was twelve. I went to college in Seattle and then spent most of my post-college years in Latin America working for educational nonprofits. My favorite hobby these days is cooking foods from around the world and mentoring students through the exciting process of research!Project ideas
Beginner Research Paper on Racial Attitudes
Have you ever wondered about American views on race and racism? In this project, we have a unique chance to explore the evolving landscape of racial attitudes in the United States or other nations. I'll guide you through crafting an intriguing research question focused on race and racial attitudes. For example, you could choose to investigate how racial attitudes influence voting behavior, impact immigration preferences, or vary across characteristics like age, race, ethnicity, geographical location, or political ideology. We can also examine how racial attitudes have changed during significant historical and political events, aiming to understand if there's been progress or stagnation in recent years. There are many directions we can go with this topic. You could collect your own data or use publicly available social survey data used by the nation's top scientists! Either way, I will guide you through the research process of deriving insights from data, and then conveying insights through a scientific research paper. If you're keen on producing a scientific research paper related to race and ethnicity, this project is an excellent opportunity.
Beginner Research Paper on Immigration Attitudes
How do Americans feel about immigrants? This project presents an exciting opportunity to delve into the complex realm of attitudes towards immigration in the United States. Whether it involves examining the influence of public perceptions about immigrants on policy preferences or understanding how attitudes differ based on factors like citizenship status, political ideology, or media influence, there are numerous ways to study immigration. I'll guide you through the research process from question conception, data analysis, and academic writing. If you're keen on producing a scientific research paper related to migration, this project is a fantastic opportunity for you.
Beginner Research Paper on Criminal Justice Attitudes
Are you interested in criminal justice? This project aims to explore the dynamic landscape of criminal justice attitudes in the United States today. You can study some of society's most pressing issues related to crime and criminal justice such as: how do public perceptions of law enforcement influence trust and cooperation? How do policing attitudes vary by factors such as socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, and geographic location? Have Americans become more polarized on issues of criminal justice? There are endless questions to explore in the realm of criminal justice and a wealth of data on the subject. In this project, I can guide you through analyzing attitudes about crime and criminal justice issues using statistical techniques. By doing so, we can unearth insightful patterns and perspectives that contribute to the ongoing discourse on criminal justice. If you are interested in producing a scientific research paper related to criminal justice, this would be a fun project.