Chris H
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at University of Wisconsin
Expertise
sociology, science and technology studies, demography, data analysis
Bio
I am pursuing my PhD in sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I earned my MS in sociology. I specialize in research methods, quantitative (statistical) analysis, social inequality (particularly health inequities), and science and technology studies. For my dissertation, I am studying how statistical methods became prominent in medical research. My most rewarding experiences as a graduate student have involved guiding students through research projects. I love giving passionate students the tools and confidence they need to pursue their interests. While working on my dissertation, I am currently employed with the Wisconsin Division of Medicaid Services, where I work as a program and policy analyst focusing on health equity.Project ideas
Analyzing and Presenting Survey Data
In this project you will learn how to access survey data, how to prepare raw data for analysis, and how to conduct basic summary statistics and create data visualizations. You will create a final report that explains to a professional audience what question you’re answering, how your data enable you to answer it, and what conclusions you drew based on your analysis. Prerequisites: 1) Some background in elementary statistics 2) Some familiarity with code-based statistical software like Stata, SAS, R, or SPSS. Other information: Access to statistical software is required, preferably Stata (license required) or R (open source).
Understanding How Knowledge is Socially Constructed
In today’s polarized political climate and contentious online landscape, it is more evident than ever that what we know depends on our social connections and cultural assumptions. In this project you will learn how our understanding shapes reality as much as reality shapes our understanding. You will apply this knowledge by analyzing how social and cultural factors shaped a fact that we typically take for granted. Prerequisites: An interest in a social scientific understanding of philosophical questions and a desire to read complex texts.