Weekly Reflections
Throughout the course, we have covered our weekly reflections after the session to document highlights, something new we learned, something we found interesting, and overall our views on the week's content
This course is the first major course in my International Politics major, and I'm looking forward to exploring various topics and themes that this course has to offer. Going through the syllabus, I'm most curious to see how social scientists approach politics and society. I'm especially interested in the many approaches employed in political science research and how they add to our understanding of global politics. I am particularly interested in understanding the different methodologies used in political science research, such as quantitative analysis, case studies, and comparative analysis. I hope to gain a comprehensive understanding of how these methods contribute to our knowledge of global politics and help us make informed decisions.
In regards to the Vox piece on postmodernism and pose-truth assertions, it would be fascinating to investigate how political scientists handle the intricacies of postmodernism and how it affects political truth claims. Understanding how these ideas affect policy-making and political discourse might help one better understand how contemporary societies operate. In particular, more than facts and qualitative data are needed as the only foundation for political analysis and judgement. Postmodernism emphasises the value of subjective interpretations and different points of view while challenging the idea of absolute reality. Incorporating these variables into conventional quantitative data sets allows scholars to better comprehend intricate political occurrences and devise diplomatic and governing approaches that are more successful.
Overall, my expectations for this course are to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of political analysis. Additionally, I strive to develop the skills necessary to critically evaluate and navigate the diverse perspectives that shape contemporary societies, which will better prepare me for future courses in political science and a career in the field.
Reflecting on the last session on January 16th, we were introduced to the topic of honours thesis programs. The session provided us with a comprehensive overview of the structure and requirements of honours thesis programmes, specifically in international Politics. We learned about the various components involved in completing an honours thesis, such as conducting research, writing a thesis proposal, working closely with a faculty advisor; research ethics; and the timeline for completing the thesis. Additionally, we gained insight into the successful honours thesis programmes of senior students who are completing their theses this year. They shared their experiences and offered valuable advice on navigating the challenges and making the most of the honours thesis process. This session was extremely informative and helpful in preparing us for our own honours thesis journey. It provided me with a clear understanding of the expectations and requirements, as well as the resources available to support us throughout the process.
This week's reading, 'Explaining Social Behaviour' by Jon Elster, presented a theoretical foundation for analysing and interpreting data in future research projects. Elster's insights on social behaviour, as well as his use of diverse case studies, helped me gain a deeper understanding of the elements that drive human actions. This reading stressed the need to consider diverse viewpoints and theories while doing research, emphasising the necessity of a thorough and multidisciplinary approach. He also emphasised the necessity of statistical evidence for social scientists to support their arguments and confirm their findings. Elster's emphasis on statistical evidence highlighted the importance of empirical study in the social sciences. Overall, this reading provided an insightful resource that increased my understanding of social behaviour.
During our class discussion on January 23rd, we explored a range of subjects, such as research opportunities, limitations of surveys, ethical concerns, and other related themes. The topic that particularly interested me was the discussion on the significance of research ethics concerning human subjects, led by Ms. Jinhene Ghannay, one of the guest presenters in the class. She discussed the historical foundation of research ethics, how they came about after morally questionable experiments were conducted on human subjects, and how this shaped contemporary ethical standards. I found this topic particularly intriguing because it highlighted the importance of protecting the rights and well-being of individuals involved in research studies. This discussion prompted me to reflect on the responsibility researchers have in conducting studies that benefit society while upholding ethical standards.
This week's assigned reading by Frederic Charles Schaffer was also interesting; it discussed the survey research limitations. Schaffer analyses how people's understanding of democracy uses methods like compartmentalization, homogenization, compression, and simplification. He argues that these methods have led to oversimplification and a lack of specificity in survey research, potentially impacting the accuracy and validity of the findings. This raised important questions for me about the reliability of survey data and the need for researchers to be mindful of potential biases and limitations in their methods. Overall, he challenges a "shared global" idea of democracy, which reflects how different cultures and societies interpret and practice democracy in unique ways. Overall, Schaffer's article raises many questions regarding how surveys can accurately capture the complexities and nuances of different societies. Also, this approach goes beyond the topic of democracy; rather, it raises concern about all types of survey research and the adaptability of findings across different subjects. As research design is a topic we are covering in this course, I look forward to learning how researchers can address these challenges, develop more inclusive and culturally sensitive research methods, and apply them to my research projects in the future.
This week's required reading, 'The Seductions of Quantification' by Sally Engle, I found to be very intriguing because of its distinctive critique of the increasing dependence on quantitative methodologies in diverse fields. Merry examines the ethnographic study and links it to the growing trend among experts to rely on quantification to validate their claims and build credibility. This is achieved through using objectivity and analysing quantitative facts, which are generally considered more dependable and credible compared to qualitative approaches. Nevertheless, Merry argues that this combining of political and technical matters occurs when quantification is employed, potentially strengthening prevailing power dynamics and inequalities. She highlights the potential of numerical data and statistics to disregard essential contextual elements and important distinctions that qualitative methodologies capture. This issue is important to address as it raises concerns about the potential limitations of solely depending on quantitative data in decision-making processes. Although quantitative data is certainly credible and offers objective insights, it is important to recognise that numbers alone may not always provide an accurate understanding of complex social issues.
The reading is linked to what was discussed in class by guest speaker Robert Laws from the Library. Laws discussed the construction of surveys and the potential biases that can arise from the wording and structure of survey questions. Professor Chandra also discussed this when creating our questionnaire, as the class modified the wording and structure of the questions to ensure they were unbiased and captured a comprehensive understanding of the topic at hand. Overall, collecting quantitative data is important for providing numerical evidence and statistical analysis, but it is crucial to also consider qualitative data to gain a deeper understanding of the social issues being studied.
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This week's lecture was centred around the Education City Survey that was recently conducted on students' opinions about the use of artificial intelligence. The guest speaker, Mr. Robert Laws, showed us the impact of AI as we analysed the survey questions and responses from the students. We gained insight into categorical variables in surveys and how they might aid with data analysis and interpretation. Mr. Laws further stressed the need to know the various categories and their significance in drawing meaningful conclusions from the survey results. It was also intriguing to see how different groups applied this to interpret certain questions, which showed the importance of considering varied perspectives when analysing survey data.
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In regards to the reading, 'How College Works', Chambliss and Takacs described a ten-year-long research project that was conducted at Hamilton College to assess liberal arts education and student outcomes. What I found most interesting about their research was that it was multi-method, meaning that they used a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to gather and analyse data; interviews, panel studies, focus groups, and surveying were all utilized. This approach enabled them to gain extensive knowledge of the students' experiences and perspectives, making the research more credible and decreasing its weaknesses; however, it came at the expense of the greater time and resources required for data collection and processing. Despite this, the multi-method approach enabled the researchers to have a more comprehensive view of the subject, allowing them to reach more firm conclusions and suggestions.
This week's lesson was very insightful for me, as we had the opportunity to observe the process of a research project. Zahra and Misba from CIRS deliberated on their encounter with their migrant worker project in Qatar and the challenges that they encountered throughout their research. They discussed their methodology, which involved conducting interviews, gathering data, and analysing their findings, in order to gain valuable insights into the experiences of migrant workers. Understanding the challenges these workers encounter and the significance of conducting studies to raise awareness about their problems was insightful.
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I was particularly intrigued by their ability to adapt their study questions and methods to accurately represent the distinct experiences and points of view of migratory workers. By using open-ended inquiries, anonymizing voices, conducting interviews in native languages, and demonstrating cultural sensitivity, the researchers effectively created a secure and inclusive environment for the workers to freely express their stories. However, they also explained some of their challenges before finding one approach that worked well for them. These challenges included overcoming gender barriers, gaining trust and cooperation from the workers, and overcoming language barriers. The researchers found that addressing these challenges required a combination of patience, empathy, and building strong relationships with the workers.
Overall, I found this thorough discussion of Zahra and Misba's study methods to be very interesting. It stressed the importance of creating a supportive environment while tailoring research methodologies to participants' specific necessities and difficulties. It also emphasised the significance of cultural awareness and knowledge when doing research in different situations, to this balance which is essential for ensuring accurate and useful data collection while following study ethics guidelines.
This session transitioned from surveys to interviews, a shift that I found very enjoyable. Guest speaker Aashish, a GUQ alum, presented his research project on Nepali migrants in Doha, emphasising the non-work aspects of their lives. Aashish's discussion provided a unique perspective on migrant living that is frequently ignored in scholarly studies. His connection to the topic enhanced the depth and authenticity of his presentation, making it informative and entertaining. He informed us about the difficulties he encountered in reaching the migrant population and explained how he resolved them by establishing trust and rapport. This understanding offered crucial insights for us to apply in future research attempts if we face similar challenges.
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We also explored the significance of interviews as a crucial data collection tool in qualitative research, highlighting their ability to provide comprehensive and detailed data that other approaches could neglect. The discussion emphasised the significance of building relationships with participants to guarantee candid and sincere responses during interviews. We also covered crucial abilities, including fluency in the interviewee's native language, expressing empathy, and establishing a trustworthy relationship. Effective interviewing strategies are essential for gathering valuable data and insights in qualitative research. These skills will be extremely useful as we handle our next research projects and interact with participants respectfully and effectively. Overall, I found this session to be very insightful and practical, providing me with the tools required to conduct successful interviews in the future as we enter this new module in the course.
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This week's session was centred around interpreting qualitative data, as we referred to our interviews for the podcast assignment. I found it very interesting to see the different directions different groups were taking in approaching the same assignment prompt, and it was insightful to hear the various perspectives and insights shared during our discussions. Especially how each group conducted their interviews, the challenges they faced, and the strategies they used to overcome them. It was a valuable learning experience to see the diversity in approaches and methods within our class.
Regarding the class activity that concluded the last session, ethnography was a new research method we were introduced to. Ethnography means studying and understanding a culture or group of people by observing and interacting with them in their natural environment. By going to Qatar National Library, it was fascinating to see how each group captured different aspects of the library's culture and community through their observations and interactions. I am excited to explore this method on a larger scale in future projects and see to what extent they would help conduct research in other settings. It will be valuable to see how ethnography can provide unique insights and perspectives that may not be captured through traditional research methods, such as surveys and interviews.
Week 9
This week's reading by Emerson et al. Writing Ethnographic field notes explains the methods involved in ethnographic documentation, providing valuable insights into the difficult process of fieldwork. The authors highlight the importance of detailed descriptions and the researcher's role as an active member of the culture under inquiry. They highlight the importance of a researcher being willing to fully engage themselves in society to have a greater understanding of the social dynamics at play. Furthermore, the reading highlights the necessity of maintaining reflexivity throughout the research process to ensure accurate and unbiased field notes and the various perspectives that may influence the interpretation of the data acquired. This method enables a more extensive and nuanced understanding of the culture under inquiry, resulting in a more thorough anthropological analysis. With the knowledge learned from this reading, my team and I are now better prepared to carry out our ethnographic study with a better grasp of the challenges required in capturing the complexity of social interactions. By combining these insights into our research methodology, we aim to provide a more insightful and well-rounded analysis that reflects the essence of the setting under study.
Week 10
During our session this week, Professor Koons talked about epistemology and how it connects to our understanding of knowledge and belief. He next carried out an experiment in which half of the class saw an image of a piston while the other did not, leading to a discussion about the role of perception in influencing our ideas. I was part of the class that saw the image, but I couldn't tell what it was because I was unfamiliar with the object. This experiment taught me how our prior knowledge and experiences may significantly influence our perception and interpretation of new information. It emphasised the need to be mindful of our prejudices and prior conceptions when creating views.
This week, my team and I also completed the ethnographic research , which involved researching several portions of souq waqif, including the gold souq, spice market, textile shops, and animal stores. We chose Souq Waqif for this challenge since it is Qatar's primary open-air museum, showcasing traditional Qatari architecture and culture. By doing an ethnographic study on this time capsule, we were able to see the delicate intricacies of daily life, interactions, and transactions that occur in this historical marketplace. According to this epistemology, our history as Qatari citizens allowed us to add a personal touch to our research, providing insights into the cultural relevance of Souq Waqif and how it reflects our society's values and customs. This event helped us better appreciate how history, culture, and beliefs all contribute to our community's identity.
Week 11
In the last class, guest speaker Professor Iroulo's discourse analysis presentation offered an insightful look into the complexity of communication. The struggle between verbal and nonverbal signs generates meaning and preserves societal power dynamics. Her emphasis on the relevance of meaning, which is related to hermeneutics, was apparent to me since it highlighted the importance of critically examining language to uncover underlying logic, prejudices, and power systems. Furthermore, I enjoyed Professor Iroulo's insights into the manual and digital analytic tools used in discourse analysis, which provided practical ways for uncovering underlying meanings and attitudes.
The contrasts between descriptive and critical analysis highlighted the complexities of discourse analysis, as well as the importance of considering both conversational patterns and power dynamics.
Reflecting this on our previous tasks, such as the interview and ethnographic exercise, I can see how a better understanding of discourse analysis might have improved our interpretations and findings. Moving forward, I am excited to apply these new insights to future research initiatives and improve my ability to critically evaluate language.
Week 12
This week's reading is Enas Kadim's 'A Critical Discourse Analysis of Trump's Election Campaign Speeches,' an article that explores and analyses Trump's rhetoric and communication methods during his campaign. It reveals Trump's secret strategies of manipulation, power dynamics, and persuasion in his talks, providing vital insights into how language influences political discourse. This in-depth examination was both eye-opening and thought-provoking for me, focusing on how language may be used to affect public opinion and political outcomes. It serves as an illustration of the significance of critically reviewing the messages we get to gain a better understanding of the underlying reasons and goals driving political debate.
Referring back to the class conversation with guest speaker Mr Robert Laws, who shared great ideas on how to analyse and comprehend various types of media information, He suggested strategies for using AI tools to improve the process and increase productivity in spotting patterns and trends in massive datasets. The quick class activity allowed us to observe the various patterns that different groups identified, as well as how those patterns varied depending on individual viewpoints and prejudices. Despite the fact that we all used the same AI database, everyone's interpretations of the results varied. This highlighted the significance of considering many perspectives while conducting content analysis to ensure a thorough grasp of the material. I'm looking forward to further exploring content analysis in the upcoming task and how to analyse and evaluate data to reach relevant conclusions effectively.
Week 13
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the remake session for Scopes this week. Therefore, I would like to reflect on the reading of Anthony Marx's study, which demonstrates how the concept of race has been used to shape national identities and legitimise unjust hierarchies and power dynamics. He exposes the horrible reality that race has historically justified atrocities such as colonialism. Confronting these facts is critical for driving change.
While it is intimidating, meaningful transformation is feasible if authentic leadership is supported by those in positions of influence. Too often, individuals in authority reinforce the oppressive structures that Marx criticises. We must hold them accountable. Ultimately, society bears the drive for change. It is important to educate ourselves and others about our common histories, as well as to learn from injustices to avoid them happening again. Academics play an important role, and theories such as postcolonial theory provide valuable analysis.
Comparative research across nations and eras reveals how racism presents itself in various circumstances. Promoting public education through teaching allows people to shape history. Extending this effort across borders through international collaboration creates common visions and solutions . Reflecting on Marx's arguments, I am challenged to sincerely envisage and embrace a society free of racism. This commitment must drive our activities and battles to make it a reality for everyone.
Week 14
Barbara Geddes's How the Cases You Choose Affect the Answers You Get: Selection Bias in Comparative Politics prompted me to reflect. The reading focuses on how selecting study cases depending on the outcome of the dependent variable, or the phenomena under examination, can lead to biased findings. Some of these biases include presuming similar qualities between distinct examples, leading to incorrect generalisations, and picking extreme outliers, which can distort the overall results. Furthermore, generalising associations identified within the selected group to the larger population suggests that the findings are indicative of all comparable situations, which is wrong. This emphasises the significance of carefully choosing study cases in comparative politics research to prevent drawing misleading or incorrect conclusions. It's interesting to observe how these biases can affect the validity of study findings, highlighting the need for researchers to be careful in their case selection process. Finally, being conscious of these biases might help researchers create more accurate and dependable results in comparative politics studies.
This week was also the final session of the course 'Scopes and Methods', during which we examined the many topics and research methodologies presented over the semester. It was eye-opening to consider how many methodologies we had studied and how they may be utilised in a variety of research settings. I'm looking forward to applying this to our forthcoming research proposal project and seeing how these strategies might help us construct a great and complete research plan.