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Donovan W

- Research Program Mentor

PhD at Indiana University - Bloomington

Expertise

Social Science, Political Science, Public Policy, American Politics, Race and Ethnicity, Social Psychology, Public Opinion, Socialization, Political Behavior, & Political Psychology

Bio

Hello! My name is Donovan A. Watts and I recently graduated with my PhD from Indiana University in the Department of Political Science. My research interests include American Politics at large with a focus on Black politics, racial and ethnic politics, political behavior, and political socialization. I have a particular focus on the political behaviors of the millennial generation. My dissertation asks: to what extent has Black millennials’ racialized socialization impacted their political attitudes and policy preferences? I argue that experiences with race have a strong influence on the political behaviors of Black millennials compared to Black non-millennials (older African Americans). Outside of my academic work, I love going on hikes with my family! We enjoy the outdoors and take advantage of any trails close to us or new trails. Also, I love traveling! My favorite place has been Pictured Rocks, Michigan. The trails are amazing and views are breathtaking. I am also an avid sports fans and I have played the trumpet for 15 years!

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Generation Z Political Behaviors

Here, we will develop an academic research article centered on the topic of your choosing. An example could include understanding the political behaviors of younger generations. More specifically, we will focus on what political issues are important to Generation Z. You will learn important related research and transferable skills, such as identifying a problem and solutions to the problem (problem-solving skills), understanding how to comprehend large amounts of information, and designing a plan or model to test a problem. The end goal is to develop an academic research article.

Coding skills

R studio

Credentials

Education

Central Michigan University
BS Bachelor of Science (2016)
Political Science
Indiana University - Bloomington
PhD Doctor of Philosophy
Political Science

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