Karen L
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at University of Texas Austin (UT Austin)
Expertise
Society, Politics, Discrimination, Inequality, Social and Political Psychology
Bio
I’m a Sociology professor who is passionate about studying society and politics. I'm interested in big questions, like: What shapes our political beliefs, and how does this impact voting behavior and electoral outcomes? What factors are driving the rise in polarization and extremism? What makes societies unequal, and what strategies can we use to reduce discrimination? These are just some examples of questions that fascinate me but I'm here to delve into any questions that ignite YOUR curiosity about society, politics, and humans. A little about me: I've lived in many places! Maryland, Korea, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Texas, and now I live in Chicago. These experiences taught me the power of different perspectives. Some of my favorite things to do are cooking foods from different parts of the world and mentoring students like you through the exciting journey of research!Project ideas
Exploring Discrimination and Inequality
This project focuses on issues related to inequality and discrimination. For example, you could investigate what shapes racial inequality, strategies for reducing discrimination, or how racial attitudes affect voting and policy views. Maybe you are interested in understanding the historical factors shaping modern inequality. Whatever issue is important to you, I would like to help you study it. You could write a literature review, collect your own data, or analyze public survey data. Whichever you choose, I’ll support you through every step—from analyzing data to presenting your findings in a scientific paper. If you're passionate about these important societal issues, this project is a great fit.
Exploring the Political World and Democracy
This project gives you a chance to dive into important issues that shape our political world. Some topics could be national or global politics, electoral outcomes, voting behavior, extremism, or misinformation. For example, you might write a literature review that explores what causes political polarization and its effects, design an experiment that looks at how social media influences voters, or start a political blog or podcast on the impact of misinformation on democracy. If you’re passionate about politics and want to understand the forces shaping our world, this project is for you.
Exploring Crime, Criminal Behavior, and Justice System
This project lets you dive into big questions in criminal justice. You could explore why crime happens, what people think about crime, or how factors like race, class, and gender affect justice. Whatever angle of criminal justice you want to explore, this project will help you build skills in research, data analysis, and critical thinking while exploring important issues about crime and justice in society.
Exploring Social Media and Politics
This project explores the powerful role social media plays in politics today. You could explore questions like: How does social media influence voting behavior? What role does it play in spreading political information—or misinformation? How does it affect political division and public opinion? To study such questions, I can guide you through conducting an online experiment, analyzing social media data, conducting interviews or surveys, or writing a literature review. Whatever you choose, this project will help you understand the intersection of social media and politics and its impact on our society.
The American Dream? Exploring Immigrant Experiences in the U.S.
Overview: This research project investigates the experiences of immigrants in the United States and whether their expectations match reality. It will explore why people immigrate, the challenges they face, and the successes they achieve. By conducting interviews, analyzing news stories, and examining immigration policies, students will gain a deeper understanding of the immigrant experience. Research Question: -How do immigrants’ expectations of life in the U.S. compare to their actual experiences? -What are the biggest challenges immigrants face, and how do they overcome them? -How do media and politics shape public perceptions of immigration? Methods: Interviews – Students can interview an immigrant (family members, community members, or local business owners) about their journey. Media Analysis – Compare how different news sources portray immigration issues. Data Exploration – Look at immigration statistics, such as job opportunities, education levels, and income, to understand trends. Policy Review – Research major immigration policies and their impact on different communities. Expected Outcome: By the end of this project, students will have a better understanding of the diversity of immigrant experiences and the factors that influence success and hardship. They will present their findings in a report, a short documentary, or a creative project such as a digital storytelling piece.