Project Mentor
Dr. Ruth Braunstein
Department: Sociology
Research Project Overview:
The student apprentice will work closely with Dr. Braunstein on her current research project, “The Moral Meanings of Taxpaying.” This project explores how the practices of taxpaying and tax resisting are linked to contested understandings of political community, good citizenship and morality in the United States. In particular, the student apprentice will assist with one or more of the following aspects of the project, depending on their skills and interests: 1) conducting a content analysis of survey questions related to taxes and taxpaying in the United States; 2) collecting and analyzing documents created by activist organizations concerned about the moral implications of paying certain taxes; or 3) reviewing existing published research on these topics, including work in political sociology, economic sociology, and the sociology of religion. The student apprentice will need to be comfortable communicating via Zoom or WebEx, collaborating using Google Drive, keeping large numbers of documents organized, and using Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets (spreadsheet app).
Role of a SHARE Summer Apprentice:
Qualitative research can involve countless hours of data collection and analysis. Some of this work is not technically difficult, but is extremely time intensive. As such, it offers a perfect opportunity for a research apprentice to contribute meaningfully to the project without extensive training. Also, because I require assistance with several “bite-sized” analyses, the student apprentice will gain insight into both the sometimes-tedious behind-the-scenes work involved in research, and also the joys of seeing results.
Although I would expect the research apprentice to be capable of working independently, I would nonetheless plan to collaborate closely with them on each aspect of their work, drawing on my experience supervising other undergraduate research assistants over the years. More specifically, I would create a shared folder in Google Drive that the research apprentice and I could use to share documents and collaborate on the analysis. We would meet via WebEx at a fixed time each week for a planning meeting, in which we discuss any questions about the work from the previous week, review the work product, and develop a plan for the coming week. If needed, we could increase these meetings to two or more per week, and this could also fluctuate during the summer depending on the nature of the work they are completing. On the days we do not meet via WebEx but on which they do work for the project, I would ask them to email me a daily report on what they completed that day along with any questions that emerged. Overall, I believe this provides research apprentices with a balance of independence, oversight, and on-the-job training, while also not being overly burdensome for either of us.
Summer Schedule/Time Commitment:
The hours per week are flexible. Although we will have a standing meeting at least once per week, I am happy to set the exact time for that in consultation with the student apprentice so it works with both of our schedules. The project work can take place during any point during the summer.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Interest in/familiarity with United States politics
- Completed coursework in social science research methods (ideal, but not required)
- Ability to communicate via Zoom or WebEx
- Ability to collaborate using Google Drive
- Ability to work with basic spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets)
- Ability to keep large numbers of documents organized
To Apply:
CLOSED – Click here to submit an online application for this research apprenticeship through the Quest Portal. The application deadline is Friday, March 26, 2021 at 11:59pm.
Click here to view an outline of the application questions. There are no additional questions specific to this apprenticeship application.