Editing Introduction to Graduate Research (Fall 2023)

<div style="float:right;" width=30%; class="toclimit-3">__TOC__</div>

;Introduction to Graduate Research (in TSB and MTS)
:Media, Technology & Society (MTS) 501
:Wednesdays 2-4:50pm CT
:Frances Searle Building, Room 3-417
:Fall 2023
:Northwestern University

;Course websites
: [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/courses/ Canvas] for announcements, submitting assignments, and some files.
: [https://northwestern.zoom.us/my/ashaw Zoom] for any remote, synchronous course events, including remote guest speaker visits.
: [https://wiki.communitydata.science/Introduction_to_Graduate_Research_(Fall_2023)| This wiki page] for nearly everything else.

;'''Instructor:''' [http://aaronshaw.org Aaron Shaw] ([mailto:aaronshaw@northwestern.edu aaronshaw@northwestern.edu])
:Office Hours: M/F 2-3:30pm CT and/or by appointment
:Please [[User:Aaronshaw/OH|signup for office hours appointments]] (and check that page for details).

<div class="res-box">
[[File:Earth-moon.jpg|thumb|480px|Taking a broad view on research careers ([https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Earth-moon.jpg Image]: NASA, 1968, Public domain)]]
</div>

== Course information ==
=== Overview and learning objectives ===

The goal of this seminar is to introduce first-year students in the MTS and TSB Ph.D. programs to (1) foundational and current research in these fields, and (2) key challenges involved in pursuing an impactful, responsible, and fulfilling research career.

Throughout the quarter, participants in the seminar will:
* Engage with program faculty and their research (influences).
* Discuss and assess various aspects of research career practices and strategies.
* Develop and apply your own effective research career development strategies.

We will do this through a combination of readings, writings, activities, in-class discussions, and guest visits from TSB and MTS program faculty.

=== Structure, topics, and themes ===

The course has two main components that will be woven together in weekly class sessions: a survey of research involving TSB and MTS program faculty and an instructional seminar focused on challenges related to professional development. The course will proceed through weekly in-person seminar meetings and activities/assignments conducted outside of class time.

The class sessions will be structured around one research domain and one professional development challenge. Every week, we will host 1-2 faculty guest speakers working in the research domain and engage with their recent research as well as some of the work that has influenced them. We will also pursue readings, discussions, and written assignments related to the professional development challenge. 

For our guest speakers, we might open with the following questions/prompts:
* Please tell us your "concise" (academic?) biography" (3 minutes or less?).
* Could you share something important to you or about you that we might not know or expect?
* What stands out in your memory of your first year as a Ph.D. student?
* What do you work on these days?
* How does the piece of research you shared fit into your career and/or a broader research agenda?
* Please tell us about the relationship of your research to the work that influenced you that you shared with us.
* Please tell us about your approach to the professional development challenge we are discussing today.


In addition to the professional development challenges that we will discuss each week, there will also be some major themes throughout the course, including:
* Ethics (especially of research and design).
* Diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and their opposites.
* "The two cultures" and other ways of knowing
* Research institutions and institutional legacies
* Windows of opportunity. Career leverage points, strategy, tactics.
* Interdisciplinarity (or maybe anti-disciplinarity?) as a way of life.

=== Assignments ===

Assignments fall into two categories: weekly and final. Details about both categories appear below. In general, I ask that you submit any written work as a PDF via Canvas. There are no specific style guidelines or formatting requirements for written work. I recommend a clear, professional, and conversational tone in your writing. I also recommend you familiarize yourself with salient [[User:Aaronshaw/Classroom_policies#Academic_integrity|principles on academic integrity]], including the appropriate attribution of sources. Please submit written work in a readable (size 11 or greater) font. Please include your name somewhere (prominent) in the document that you submit as well as your last name at the beginning of the filename (e.g., "Shaw-mts501-week1-assignment.pdf").

==== Weekly assignments ====

The course schedule (below) provides details of weekly assignments as well as links to materials and Canvas pages required to complete them. In general, '''weekly assignments are due Mondays at 6pm U.S. central time''' in order to allow time for review of (and sometimes feedback on) your submitted materials ahead of our class session. Weekly assignments include readings, activities, written work, and discussion provocations.

'''Readings:''' I expect you to read all of the items under the '''readings''' subheading for each week. This includes recent publications shared by our faculty guest speakers. The [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/courses/149253/files Files page of our Canvas site] also contains copies of faculty guest speakers' CVs and you should read these as well. In many weeks, there are additional recommended reading materials provided (these are not required). Finally, many (all?) of our faculty guests will share a ''key influential text'' with us ahead of their visit. These influential texts are further recommended (not required) reading.

'''Activities and written work''' will consist of...writing and related activities. For activities that involve collaboration or conversation with colleagues, it is up to you to coordinate any meeting times, places, or communication channels as needed. For written work, please submit a PDF via Canvas and please use a readable (size 11 or greater) font. There are no specific style guidelines or formatting requirements for written work. Please include your name somewhere (prominent) in the document that you submit as well as your last name at the beginning of the filename (e.g., "Shaw-mts501-week1-assignment.pdf"). In general, please submit written assignments via the corresponding [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/courses/196467/assignments Canvas assignment] '''by 6pm U.S. central time Monday ahead of class''' (i.e., submit assignments on Monday 9/25 for the Wednesday 9/27 class session).

'''Discussion provocations''' are your chance to draw our collective attention to topics of your choosing each week and influence the content of our class sessions. In addition to the weekly readings and assignments listed below, I ask everyone to submit a discussion provocation every week we have a class meeting (with the exception of Week 1). Please take this as an invitation and opportunity to shape our conversation in class! Maybe there's something that excites, enrages, or confuses you in something we read. Maybe you really want to ask one of our faculty guests about something you discover in the publication they circulate or their CV. Whatever the case, please limit your provocations to about 250 words (or so) and submit them via the corresponding [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/courses/196467/discussion_topics Canvas Discussion] '''by 6pm U.S. central time each Monday''' (i.e., submit provocations on Monday 9/25 for the Wednesday 9/27 class session).

==== Final project ====

[[Introduction_to_Graduate_Research_(Fall_2023)/Final_project|Detailed description of final projects]]

'''Final projects are due [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/courses/ via Canvas] at 12pm (Central time) on December 4, 2023'''. [[Introduction_to_Graduate_Research_(Fall_2023)/Final_project|The final project]] for the course will be a 5,000 word (approximately) written document consisting of two parts: (1) a strategic plan for your graduate school career and (2) a research plan for an empirical and/or design project you aim to conduct in the coming year+. [[Introduction_to_Graduate_Research_(Fall_2023)/Final_project|Additional details here]].

=== Grading and assessment ===

I will assign grades (usually a numeric integer between 0-10) for each of the following aspects of your performance in the course. For each aspect, grades start with the maximum possible value (10) and only decrease in the event of a specific failure to complete assignment(s) or meet some element of the relevant assessment rubric (more on those below). Weekly assignments are graded on a complete/incomplete basis. The percentage values are weights that will be applied to calculate your overall grade for the course.

* Weekly participation: 35%
* Weekly assignments: 40%
* Final assignment: 25%

For detailed assessment rubrics that I use to derive grades for all assignments, please see my [[User:Aaronshaw/Assessment|page on assessment]].

=== Policies ===
==== General course policies ====

[[User:Aaronshaw/Classroom_policies|General policies]] on a wide variety of topics including classroom equity, attendance, academic integrity, accommodations, late assignments, and more are provided [[User:Aaronshaw/Classroom_policies|on Aaron's class policies page]]. Northwestern also provides a raft of [https://www.registrar.northwestern.edu/faculty-staff/syllabi.html current/official syllabus policy statements] (and in the event that Aaron's personal/course policies diverge from these, the Northwestern ones generally take precedence, so please review them). Below are some policy statements specific to this course and quarter.

==== COVID-19 Policies ====

My [[User:Aaronshaw/COVID_policies|COVID-19 policies page]] provided specific COVID-19 policies mandated by Northwestern University. Several additional COVID-19-related policies follow below.

==== Teaching and learning in a pandemic ====

Even beyond my [[User:Aaronshaw/COVID_policies|COVID-19 policies]], the ongoing pandemic will impact this course in various ways, some of them obvious and tangible and others harder to pin down. On the obvious and tangible front, we have things like the fact that we will be wearing masks when we meet on campus (assuming we're able to meet on campus all quarter!) and that some of our guest speakers will likely participate remotely. These will reshape our collective experience in major ways. 

On the "harder to pin down" side, even though (or maybe especially because) we've been doing this pandemic thing for a while now, many of us may experience elevated levels of exhaustion, stress, uncertainty and/or distraction. We may need to provide unexpected support to family, friends, or others in our communities. I have some personal experiences with this and I expect that many (all?) of you do too. It can be a difficult time.

I believe it is important to acknowledge these realities of the situation and create the space to discuss and process them in the context of our class throughout the quarter. As your instructor and colleague, I commit to do my best to approach the course in an adaptive, generous, and empathetic way. I will try to be transparent and direct with you throughout—both with respect to the course material as well as the pandemic and the university's ongoing response to it. I ask that you try to extend a similar attitude towards everyone in the course. When you have questions, feedback, or concerns, please try to share them in an appropriate, empathetic way. If you require accommodations of any kind at any time (directly related to the pandemic or not), please contact me.

==== Expectations for class sessions ====
I ask that everyone participating in the class endeavor to help create: a supportive, welcoming, inclusive, and respectful environment for teaching and learning. We can talk about what this means in our first session.

Our classes are long and we will aim to take a 10-15 minute break after the first hour(ish), during which time you are very much encouraged to leave the room, stretch your legs, walk around outside, etc. Please return a few minutes prior to 3:30pm as we will host guest speakers during the second half of class and it's important that we respect their time.

===== Remote participation =====
In the event that you find yourself participating in class remotely for any reason, here are suggested protocols for any video/audio participation:
* Please mute your microphone whenever you're not speaking and learn to use [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Push-to-talk "push-to-talk"] if/when possible.
* Video is optional for all students at all times, although if you're willing/able to keep an instructor/visitor company in the video channel that is appreciated.
* If you need to excuse yourself at any time and for any reason you may do so.
* Children, family, pets, roommates, and others with whom you may share your home/workspace are welcome to join your video as needed, but please do your best to minimize distractions and disruptions to the course.

==== Syllabus revisions ====

This syllabus will be a dynamic document that will evolve throughout the quarter. Although the core expectations are fixed, the details will shift. As a result, please keep in mind the following:

# '''Assignments and readings are ''frozen'' 1 week before they are due.''' I will not add readings or assignments less than one week before they are due. If I forget to add something or fill in a "To Be Determined" less than one week before it's due, it is dropped. If you plan to read or work more than one week ahead, contact me first.
# '''Substantial changes to the syllabus or course materials will be announced.''' Please monitor your email for Canvas messages about changes. Also, whenever I make changes, these changes will be recorded in [https://wiki.communitydata.science/index.php?title=Introduction_to_Graduate_Research_(Fall_2023)&action=history  the edit history of this page] so that you can track what has changed.
# '''The course design may adapt throughout the quarter.''' As usual (for me at least), I may iterate and prototype course design elements rapidly along the way. To this end, I will ask you for voluntary feedback — especially toward the beginning of the quarter. Please let me know what is working and what can be improved. In the past, I have made many adjustments based on this feedback and I expect to do so again.


=== Additional resources/readings ===

Throughout the quarter, we will undoubtedly generate a long list of related topics, readings, videos, memes, etc.

'''[[Introduction_to_Graduate_Research_(Fall_2023)/Resources|Please add things to that list here]]'''

== Schedule (with all the details) ==

=== Week 1: 9.20 ===

[[Introduction_to_Graduate_Research_(Fall_2023)/Week1|Session plan]]

'''Challenge: What is a Ph.D. program (or a university for that matter) and what do I do with it?'''

''Bonus challenge: How to read in graduate school''

'''Guests: TSB and MTS Directors of Graduate Studies'''
* Claudio Benzecry ([https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17160279/download?download_frd=1 CV])
* Nick Diakopoulos ([https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17160281/download?download_frd=1 CV])

==== Reading/Viewing ====
* Aitamurto, Tanja, Eddy Borges-Rey & Nicholas Diakopoulos. 2023 [https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2023.2185649 The Future of Design + Journalism: A Manifesto for Bridging Digital Journalism and Design], ''Digital Journalism'', 11:3, 399-410, DOI: 10.1080/21670811.2023.2185649.
* Benzecry, Claudio. 2022. ''The Perfect Fit: Creative Work in the Global Shoe Industry''. University of Chicago Press. [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17160175/download?download_frd=1  Preface and Chapter 1] (via Canvas).
* Hobbs, Kendall. 2023. [https://libguides.wesleyan.edu/readanarticle LibGuides: How to read an academic journal article]. Wesleyan University Library, Library Guides.
* McMillan Cottom, Tressie. 2020. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0hMzG5h0Eo Reimagining Education: Race and Purpose in Higher Education] An interview/conversation with Suzanne Shanahan, Virtues and Vocations Forum, Kenan Institute for Ethics, Duke University, August, 25. '''The full video, including Q&A, is about an hour (at 1x speed) and the Q&A is great.'''
* Pain, Elisabeth. 2016. [https://www.science.org/content/article/how-seriously-read-scientific-paper How to (seriously) read a scientific paper] ''Science'' doi: 10.1126/science.caredit.a1600047.

==== Recommended readings ====
* Becker, Howard S. 1995. The power of inertia. ''Qualitative Sociology'' 18, 301–309. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02393344. (''Benzecry influence'')
* Johnson, Deborah G. 2021. [https://doi.org/10.1017/S0265052522000073 Algorithmic accountability in the making]. ''Social Philosophy and Policy'' 38(2):111–27. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0265052522000073. (''Diakopoulos influence'')
* Stevens, Mitchell. 2021. [https://www.publicbooks.org/harvard-riverside-round-trip/ Harvard-Riverside, Round Trip]. ''Public Books,'' August 11.
* Handbook for your respective Doctoral Program (If you haven't yet received updated versions, take a look at the [https://media.soc.northwestern.edu/socwp-aws/sites/48/2023/02/17110309/Final-TSB-Handbook-2022-2023.pdf AY2022-2023 TSB handbook] OR [https://media.soc.northwestern.edu/socwp-aws/sites/34/2023/02/17164121/Final-MTS-Handbook-22-23.pdf AY2022-2023 MTS handbook]).


=== Week 2: 9.27 ===

[[Introduction_to_Graduate_Research_(Fall_2023)Week2|Session plan]]

'''Challenge: What do you work on?''' Finding and framing research questions, puzzles, problems, and challenges

'''Guests:''' 
* Duri Long ([https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17227307/download?download_frd=1 CV])
* Jeremy Birnholtz ([https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17227715/download?download_frd=1 CV])

==== Readings ====
* Abbott, Andrew. 2004. ''[https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17168697/download?download_frd=1 Methods of Discovery]'', W.W. Norton, NY. We will talk about [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17168699/download?download_frd=1 Chapter 7 (Ideas and Puzzles)], pp 211-248.
* Birnholtz, J., Rawat, S., Vashista, R., Baruah, D., Dange, A., & Boyer, A.-M. 2020. [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2056305120913995 Layers of Marginality: An Exploration of Visibility, Impressions, and Cultural Context on Geospatial Apps for Men Who Have Sex With Men in Mumbai, India]. ''Social Media + Society'', 6(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305120913995
* Durkheim, Émile. 1897. ''Suicide''. Excerpt — final section of the Introduction ([https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17227843/download?download_frd=1 available via Canvas]).
* Long, Duri, Anthony Teachey, and Brian Magerko. 2022. [https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3491102.3502091 Family Learning Talk in AI Literacy Learning Activities]. In ''Proceedings of the 2022 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '22)''. Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, Article 226, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1145/3491102.3502091

==== Recommended readings ====
* Gaver, William. 2012. [https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/2207676.2208538 What should we expect from research through design?] In ''Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '12)''. Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 937–946. https://doi.org/10.1145/2207676.2208538 (''Long influence'')
* Simon, Herbert. 1996. ''The Sciences of the Artificial'' (3rd edition). Cambridge, MA, MIT Press. (''Birnholtz influence'')

==== Written work and activities ====

'''1. Submit a discussion provocation''' [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/courses/196467/discussion_topics/ via Canvas] (by 6pm on Monday 9/25).

'''2. Research puzzle:''' Draft a paragraph that presents a research idea, project, or interest of yours as a puzzle. Submit it [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/courses/196467/assignments/1299734 via Canvas] (by 6pm on Monday 9/25) and please also print a copy of it and bring it with you to class.

=== Week 3: 10.04 ===

[[Introduction to Graduate Research (Fall 2023)/Week 3|Session plan]]

'''Challenge: Who do you work with?''' Cultivating effective mentoring relationships and collaborations

'''Guests:'''
* Nathan Walter ([https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17285748/download?download_frd=1 CV])

==== Readings ====
* Adams, Rachel. 2023. [https://www.chronicle.com/article/when-mentors-fail-us When mentors fail us]. ''The Chronicle of Higher Education'', March 13.
* Lee, A., Dennis, C. & Campbell, P. 2007. [https://doi.org/10.1038/447791a Nature's guide for mentors]. ''Nature'' 447, 791–797. https://doi.org/10.1038/447791a
* The Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan. 2020. [https://rackham.umich.edu/downloads/student-mentoring-handbook.pdf Graduate student mentoring guide] (pdf). University of Michigan.
* Walter, Nathan, et al. Unpublished ms. [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17285782/download?download_frd=1 Ushering in an age of communication science principles] (via Canvas). 

==== Written work and activities ====
'''1. Submit a discussion provocation.'''

'''2. Advising reflection''': Write a brief (~500-800 word?) reflection on your advising relationship thus far. Be sure to address the following:
* What elements of a positive advising/mentoring relationship (identified in the readings or not) strike you as particularly important to cultivate with your faculty advisor?
* Assess your current advising relationship with respect to the elements you identify as most important (and others, if you wish).
* Articulate a plan for how you propose to improve and/or sustain a positive advising/mentoring relationship with your faculty advisor. 
* Identify other potential sources of mentoring and support that can complement this plan.

'''3. Collaboration interview + reflection:''' Find a more advanced graduate student who has published at least one paper with at least one coauthor (may be their advisor or not). Conduct a short (30 minutes or so?) open-ended interview using the questions below as a guide. Make sure to take notes (or record the conversation with permission). Write up the key findings from your interview in about 500-800 words. Be sure to emphasize any key takeaways or insights that you found especially new, surprising, or confusing.
* How were responsibilities divided in this collaboration (who was responsible for what)? 
* How were decisions made about who would be responsible for what?
* How did you and your collaborator(s) manage your work across different stages of the project (from research design through data collection, analysis, writing up, reference management, peer review, and publication/dissemination)? 
* What social/technical systems did you use to manage your work across different stages of the project?
* What went well in this collaboration? 
* What would you change next time you collaborate (with the same coauthor(s) or others)?

'''4. Submit both written texts [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/courses/196467/assignments/1288046 via Canvas].''' (Due Monday, October 2 6pm CT)

'''5. Exchange and discuss written submissions with a partner''' (to-be assigned in class on September 27). Note that you should exchange writings and meet ''outside class'' to discuss each others' perspectives before we meet this week. Please also note that our class discussion in class will begin with report-outs from the small group discussions. If you would like discussion prompts, here are some ideas:
* What did you notice about each other's reflections on advising and collaboration? 
* Were there any common threads? Any (surprising) divergences?
* What takeaways do you have about advising/mentoring and collaboration based on these exercises?
* What questions do you have about advising/mentoring and collaboration based on these exercises?

==== Recommended readings ==== 
* The Graduate School Administrative Board, Northwestern University. 2018. [https://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/documents/services-support/guidance-graduate-student-and-faculty-adviser-relationships.pdf Guidance for positive graduate student faculty advisor relationships] (pdf).
* The Graduate School, Northwestern University. 2011. [https://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/documents/services-support/graduate-expectations-nov-2011.pdf Graduate Student Expectations Document] (pdf).
* Hargittai, Eszter. 2010. [https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2010/08/27/case-collaboration The Case for Collaboration]. ''Inside Higher Ed: Ph.Do column'', August 27.
* Lazarsfeld, Paul F. and Robert K. Merton. 1948. [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17285834/download?download_frd=1 Mass communication, popular taste, and organized social action]. (''Walter influence'').

=== Week 4: 10.11 ===
[[Introduction_to_Graduate_Research_(Fall_2023)/Week 4|Session plan]]

'''Challenge: Where does the money come from?''' Finding funding and support for your work

'''Guests:'''
* Yingdan Lu ([https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17285747/download?download_frd=1 CV])

==== Readings ==== 
* Read through the [https://www.nsfgrfp.org/applicants U.S. NSF GRFP web site]. Pay particular attention to the [https://www.nsfgrfp.org/applicants/application-components/ application components] and [https://www.nsfgrfp.org/applicants/merit-review-criteria/ merit review criteria]. (Also, you may want to review the [https://www.nsfgrfp.org/applicants/applicant-eligibility/ eligibility requirements])
* Lu, Yingdan, Schaefer, Jack, Park, Kunwoo, Joo, Jungseock, & Pan, Jennifer. 2022. [https://doi.org/10.1177/19401612221117470 How Information Flows from the World to China]. The International Journal of Press/Politics, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/19401612221117470.

==== Recommended readings ====
* King, Gary, Pan, Jennifer and Roberts, Margaret E., 2013. [https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055413000014 How censorship in China allows government criticism but silences collective expression]. ''American political science Review'', ''107''(2), pp.326-343. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055413000014 (''Lu influence'').

==== Written work and activities ====
'''1. Submit a discussion provocation.'''

'''2. Fellowship (Grant) applications:''' Develop a draft fellowship application research statement modeled on the requirements and criteria for the U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (more commonly known as the NSF GRFP). We will then conduct a round of peer feedback on these statements. 

* Draft a [https://www.nsfgrfp.org/applicants/statements/ Graduate Research Plan Statement] consistent with the NSF requirements and recommendations for GRFP applicants.
** The maximum length of the Graduate Research Plan Statement is two (2) pages. These page limits include all references, citations, charts, figures, images, and lists of publications and presentations. Times New Roman font for all text, Cambria Math font for equations, Symbol font for non-alphabetic characters (it is recommended that equations and symbols be inserted as an image), no smaller than 11-point, except text that is part of an image. Note that the NSF asks statements be no more than 2 pages, size 11 font.
** Submit your statement [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/courses/196467/assignments/1288047 via Canvas].

* Conduct a round of peer feedback with at least one other person in the class. I'll randomly assign pairings to facilitate this, but you are welcome to seek additional feedback (and I recommend you do whenever you plan to develop an actual fellowship or grant application!). It is often helpful to get input from people with some overlapping expertise/interests as well as people who know nearly nothing about your proposed area of research.

==== Additional resources ====

* Northwestern University [https://www.northwestern.edu/fellowships/index.html Office of Fellowships] is a useful resource. See, in particular, the office's [https://www.northwestern.edu/fellowships/find-fellowships/fellowship-finder/index.html fellowship finder tool].

=== Week 5: 10.18 ===
'''Challenge: How do you get things done?''' Creating and practicing sustainable work routines

'''Guests:'''
* Erik Nisbet ([https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17347628/download?download_frd=1 CV])

==== Readings ====
* Dal, Aysenur, Nisbet, Erik C., & Kamenchuk, Olga. 2023. [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/14614448221135861 Signaling silence: Affective and cognitive responses to risks of online activism about corruption in an authoritarian context]. ''New Media & Society'', 25(3), 646-664. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448221135861.
* Henry, Alan. 2014. [https://lifehacker.com/productivity-101-a-primer-to-the-getting-things-done-1551880955 Productivity 101: A Primer to the Getting-Things-Done Philosophy]. Lifehacker, March 26. 
* Wajcman, J. (2019). The Digital Architecture of Time Management. ''Science, Technology, & Human Values'', 44(2), 315–337. [https://doi.org/10.1177/0162243918795041 https://doi.org/10.1177/0162243918795041] (open access and available in Canvas).

==== Recommended readings ====
* Healy, Kieran. 2020. [https://kieranhealy.org/publications/plain-person-text/ The Plain Person's Guide to Plain Text Social Science]. Duke University. 
* Shanahan, James, & Morgan, Michael. 1999. ''Television and its viewers: Cultivation theory and research''. Cambridge University Press (''Nisbet influence'').

==== Written work and activities ====

'''1. Submit a discussion provocation'''

'''2. Time diary exercise:'''
* Keep a time diary for two work days prior to this week's class. Your time diary should record information about what you do when (including non-work things). Format/record the information however you like (here's [https://www.businesstrainingcollege.com/business/what-is-a-time-diary.htm one example and a short overview]).
* Write a ~300-500 word reflection on what you learn (or not?) from your time diary. How did you spend your time? How much of it was work-related? How would you categorize how you spent your work time (e.g., faculty might categorize their work in terms of teaching, research, service)? What research and workflow tools do you use to perform your work? How typical were these days for you? What changes do you anticipate/plan in the future? What challenges or problems can you identify in your existing work habits/workflow and how will you address them?
* [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/courses/ Upload your reflection to Canvas].
* In the small groups below, swap reflections (swapping time diaries is not required!), and hold a meeting in which you discuss each other's work habits, workflow, time use, tool use, and just about anything else that comes up.
** Aidan Fitzsimmons + Jessi Zier
** Sara Abdulla + Haohan Shi + Lizzie Li
** Yanling Zhao + Molly de Blanc
** Annie Chu + Savanna Kerstiens
** Sky E  + Charlotte Li
** Matt Gaughan + Redd Roseboro

==== Additional resources ====
* [https://usesthis.com/ Uses this] (blog profiling what tools people use to do their work) especially (maybe?) the [https://usesthis.com/categories/professor/ professor category].
* Munroe, Randall. [https://xkcd.com/1205/ Is it worth the time?], xkcd.

=== Week 6: 10.25 ===
'''Challenge: What field(s) are you in?''' Building professional communities and (support) networks

[[Introduction_to_Graduate_Research_(Fall_2023)/Week_6|Session plan]]

'''Guests:'''
* T.J. Billard ([https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17160279/download?download_frd=1 CV])

==== Readings ====
* Bernstein, Robin. 2017. [https://jobs.chronicle.com/article/how-to-talk-to-famous-professors How to talk to famous professors]. ''Chronicle of Higher Education: Jobs.''
* Billard, T.J. 2023. ''[https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17503187/download?download_frd=1 Voices for Transgender Equality]'', Oxford UP. (Introduction; via Canvas).
* Coleman Robin R, Means, and Jennifer McGee Reyes. 2021. Assessing Programmatic Mentoring: Requiem for Carmen, ''Communication, Culture and Critique,'' tcab051, [https://doi.org/10.1093/ccc/tcab051 https://doi.org/10.1093/ccc/tcab051] (available in Canvas).
* Hargittai, Eszter. 2012. [https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2012/12/14/essay-how-learn-other-academics-cvs Learning from Others' CVs]. Inside Higher Ed: Ph.Do column, December 14. 
* Whitaker, Manya. 2017. [https://jobs.chronicle.com/article/how-to-create-and-keep-a-useful-network How to create and keep a useful network]. ''Chronicle of Higher Education: Jobs.''

==== Recommended readings ====
* Ball-Rokeach, S. J. (1985). [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/009365085012004003 The origins of individual media-system dependency: A sociological framework]. ''Communication Research'', 12(4), 485-510. https://doi.org/10.1177/009365085012004003

<!---
* Tobin, Thomas J. 2020. [https://jobs.chronicle.com/article/how-to-make-the-most-of-a-virtual-conference How to make the most of a virtual conference]. ''Chronicle of Higher Education: Jobs.''
--->

==== Written work and activities ====
* Identify 1 senior faculty/researcher and 2 junior faculty/researchers working in your (best approximation of) your current field of interest. Ideally, the senior person should be at least 5 years post-doctoral degree and the junior people should have completed doctoral degrees within the past 3-5 years.
* Find their CVs (likely online). If you can't find someone's CV, try to choose another person.
* Identify relevant (to you and your field(s) of interest) conferences, professional associations, workshops, and other evidence of open professional networks (or events) from the CVs. Collect these in a written list somewhere (that you can bring with you to class).
* Figure out how many and what kinds of publications, creative works, or other research products the people had generated (1) while they were doctoral students; and (2) by the time they (seem to have) finished their doctoral degrees. Compare the quantities, qualities, venues, coauthorship patterns, or other salient attributes of these research products across the people you chose.
* In about 500 words, reflect on the results of this exercise and the readings about professional networks/mentoring. What do you notice in the CVs you reviewed? What stands out from the readings? What concrete goals, strategies, and next steps will you pursue to develop your own research portfolios and networks? How will you assess your progress towards these goals and the implementation of these strategies?
* [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/courses Upload your reflection to Canvas] and come to class prepared to discuss it.

=== Week 7: 11.01 ===
'''Challenge: How do you communicate your work? (Part I)''' Writing, publishing, and reviewing

[[Introduction_to_Graduate_Research_(Fall_2023)/Week 7|Session plan]]

'''Guests:'''
* Larissa Buchholz ([https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VwRqfi5Gu-BeYjY9LjzSnTkAC87fBZb1/view?usp=sharing CV])
* James Schwoch ([https://communication.northwestern.edu/faculty/james-schwoch.html CV])

==== Readings: ====
*  Buchholz, Larissa. 2022. [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eVFSXnRQJr2q6tDMOpJq4084KyMo2Hbj/view?usp=sharing Preface/Chapter 1]. in: ''The global rules of art: The emergence and divisions of a cultural world economy''. Princeton University Press.
* Cosley, Dan. 2014. [https://blogs.cornell.edu/danco/2014/06/12/how-i-review-papers/ How I review papers]. Danco blog.
* King, Brayden. 2011. [https://orgtheory.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/the-editors-speak-what-makes-a-good-review/ The editors speak: what makes a good review?] (read the entire post and all the statements from the journal editors). OrgTheory Blog. 
* Suiseeya et al. 2022. [https://doi.org/10.1177/00027162221095495 Waking from Paralysis: Revitalizing Conceptions of Climate Knowledge and Justice for More Effective Climate Action]. ''The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science'' 700, no. 1 (March): 166–82. https://doi.org/10.1177/00027162221095495.
* Example peer review documents
** [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17618211/download?download_frd=1 Example reviews (on canvas)]
** [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17618249/download?download_frd=1 Example response letter (on canvas)]

=== Suggested readings ===

* Connell, Raewyn. [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9558.2007.00314.x The northern theory of globalization]. ''Sociological theory'' 25, no. 4 (2007): 368-385. (''Buchholz influence'')
* Horkheimer, M., & Adorno, T. (1947/1998). [https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/adorno/1944/culture-industry.htm The culture industry: Enlightenment as mass deception]. (''Buchholz influence #2'')
* Jim Schwoch suggested reading Wikipedia entries on scholars who influenced specific prior books of his. Here are the names/links: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cronon William Cronon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Parks Lisa Parks], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Schivelbusch Wolfgang Schivelbusch], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Hall_(cultural_theorist) Stuart Hall], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fridtjof_Nansen Fridtjof Nansen], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulo_Freire Paulo Freire], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernand_Braudel Fernand Braudel] 

==== Written work and activities: ====

'''1. Submit a discussion provocation.'''

'''2. Draft an extended abstract of the research plan component of your final project.'''

* The [[Introduction_to_Graduate_Research_(Fall_2023)/Final_project|final project]] for the course asks you to prepare a detailed research plan. For this assignment, please draft a short, preliminary version of this plan so that you can get moving with it and elicit some feedback. Please limit yourself to ≤1,000 words for this (references not included). Submit your work via Canvas. 
* I plan to assign two peer reviewers in Canvas to each of these and (assuming I can convince Canvas to do so) will make the reviews anonymous. In writing your reviews, please apply the recommendations for excellent reviewing that you find in the readings and additional resources.

==== Additional resources ====
* ''International Journal of Communication'': [https://annenbergpress.com/2020/02/06/ijoc-publishes-special-forum-section-on-writing-in-communication-and-media-studies/ Special Forum Section "On Writing in Communication and Media Studies"]. 2021.
* Elmqvist, Niklas. 2015. [https://sites.umiacs.umd.edu/elm/2015/12/19/how-to-review-hcivisualization-papers/ How to review HCI/Visualization papers]. 
* Elmqvist, Niklas. 2017. [https://sites.umiacs.umd.edu/elm/2017/06/23/revision-response-letters/ Writing effective revision response letters].
* Elmqvist, Niklas. 2018. [https://sites.umiacs.umd.edu/elm/2018/02/05/for-the-love-of-writing/ For the love of writing].
* Nobarany, S., Booth, K.S., Hsieh, G. 2015. [https://faculty.washington.edu/garyhs/docs/nobarany-JAIST-Review.pdf What motivates people to review articles? The case of the human-computer interaction community]. ''Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology''. DOI: 10.1002/asi.23469.
* Raff. Jennifer. 2015. [https://violentmetaphors.com/2013/12/13/how-to-become-good-at-peer-review-a-guide-for-young-scientists/ How to become good at peer review: A guide for young scientists]. Violent metaphors blog.
* Savage, Van and Yeh, Pamela. 2019. [https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02918-5 Novelist Cormac McCarthy's tips on how to write a great science paper]. ''Nature'' Career column, September 26.

=== Week 8: 11.08 ===
'''Challenge: How do others see you?''' Crafting a professional identity

[[Introduction_to_Graduate_Research_(Fall_2023)/Week_8|Session plan]]

'''Guests:'''
* Matthew Kay ([https://www.mjskay.com/cv.pdf CV])

==== Readings ====
* Hargittai, E. & King, B. 2013. [https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2013/11/11/essay-what-academic-job-seekers-need-their-websites You need a website]. Insider Higher Ed: Ph.Do column, November 11. 
* Pu, Xiaoying and Kay, Matthew. 2020. [https://www.mjskay.com/papers/chi2020-pgog.pdf A probabilistic grammar of graphics]. CHI.
* [https://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/publish/scholarly-publishing/visibility Visibility: Building your online presence]. Simon Fraser University Scholarly Publishing Resources.

==== Written work and activities ====

'''1. Submit a discussion provocation'''

'''2. Friendly web presence audit:''' 

You will once again work in pairs (or so) for this assignment:
* Search your colleague's full name. See what results come up.
* Using a browser window with no search/browsing history and without being logged in to any services (Gmail, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, etc.), conduct another search for your colleague and see what comes up.
* Conduct yet another search for your colleague's name using a search engine that you do not use frequently/ever. A good option for many of you might be [duckduckgo.com/ DuckDuckGo].
* Repeat your searches with different configurations of your colleague's name (e.g., with/without middle names, with/without quotations, with/without institutional affiliation(s), etc.). Be creative (but don't be creepy).
* Take notes on what you learn. What do you find through the quick/initial search? What do you discover through more involved/elaborate searches? Save and/or note links/screenshots as you deem appropriate. 
* Come up with three concrete recommendations for how this person can improve their online image.
* Prepare to discuss this analysis with your colleague in class this week.

==== Suggested readings ====

* Kay, Matthew. 2023. [https://mucollective.northwestern.edu/files/2023-ggdist.pdf ggdist: Visualizations of Distributions and Uncertainty in the Grammar of Graphics]. IEEE Trans. Visualization & Comp. Graphics (Proc. VIS).
* Wilkinson, L. (2012). [https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-21551-3_13 The Grammar of Graphics]. In: Gentle, J., Härdle, W., Mori, Y. (eds) Handbook of Computational Statistics. Springer Handbooks of Computational Statistics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-21551-3_13 (''Kay influence'').

=== Week 9: 11.15 ===
'''Challenge: How do you communicate your work? (Part II) Presentations and other means of dissemination

'''Guests:'''
* Moya Bailey ([https://www.moyabailey.com/cv/ CV])

==== Readings, etc. ==== 
*  Bailey, Moya. 2022. ''[https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07491409.2022.2135895 Friendship, Fellowship, Fury]''. ''Women's Studies in Communication'', 45:4, 433-439, https://doi.org/10.1080/07491409.2022.2135895.  
* Case study on [https://caseyfiesler.com Professor Casey Fiesler] (CU Boulder, Information). You should check out her [https://caseyfiesler.com personal website], [https://www.internetruleslab.com/ lab website], [https://www.youtube.com/c/CaseyFieslerPhD Youtube channel], [https://cfiesler.medium.com/ Medium blog], [https://www.tiktok.com/@professorcasey? TikTok channel], [https://twitter.com/cfiesler Twitter], and [https://caseyfiesler.com/press/ Press and public scholarship page]. Please make sure to review the (good) examples that follow below 
** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvkuEKGNWQo Academic public scholarship: Should you blog as a grad student or professor?]
** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh5b5wZzgBA Advice for new Ph.D. students: How to succeed in graduate school!]
** [https://www.tiktok.com/@professorcasey/video/6984794098515365126 One of my tweets is in the process of going viral (TikTok video)]
** [https://www.wired.com/story/opinion-ethical-tech-starts-with-addressing-ethical-debt/ Ethical tech starts with addressing ethical debt (''Wired'' opinion)]
** [https://www.internetruleslab.com/fandom Internet Rules Lab page on fandom research]

==== Suggested readings ==== 

* hooks, b. 1992. ''Black Looks: Race and Representation''. South End Press. (note that Routledge has published a 2nd edition as of 2014 and we may have digital access: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315743226). (''Bailey influence'')

==== Activities ====

* Bonus special guest conversation

==== Additional resources ====
* [https://chi2021.acm.org/for-authors/presenting/papers/guide-to-a-successful-presentation CHI 2021 Guide to a successful presentation].
* Howard, Philip N., 2015. [https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2015/09/16/essay-preparing-effective-presentation-academic-job-talk A dozen slides]. ''Inside Higher Ed''.
* Pilcher, Helen. 2019. [https://sigchi.org/resources/communicating-your-research-with-the-public-and-press/ A practical guide to communicating with non-scientists]. Sigchi.org.
* Tufte, Edward. The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint (a classic! on Canvas).

=== Week 10: 11.22 ===
'''No class meeting this week.'''


=== Week 11: 11.29 ===

'''Challenge: Where to from here?''' Pathways through graduate school, job markets, and beyond

'''Readings:'''
* Guo, Philip J. 2015 (revised edition). [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17227722/download?download_frd=1 The Ph.D. Grind: A Ph.D. Student Memoir] (via Canvas). 

'''Guests: Distinguished Alumni Panel'''
* [https://hgetachewsmith.com/ Hannah Getachew-Smith] (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
* [https://www.si.umich.edu/people/chelsea-peterson-salahuddin Chelsea Peterson-Salahuddin] (University of Michigan)
* [https://www.eurekafoong.com/ Eureka Foong] (YouTube)
* [http://www.snehanarayan.com/ Sneha Narayan] (Carleton College)
* [https://engineering.nd.edu/faculty/diego-gomez-zara/ Diego Gómez-Zará] (Notre Dame)

=== Week 12: 12.04 ===
'''Final projects due at 12pm CT on Monday, December 4, 2023 [via Canvas]'''

See [[Introduction_to_Graduate_Research_(Fall_2023)/Final_project|final project page]] for details.

== Credit and notes ==
This course design and syllabus builds from prior iterations offered by Claudio Benzecry, Pablo Boczkowski, Darren Gergle, Eszter Hargittai, and me. It has also been shaped by input from the current faculty affiliated with the MTS and TSB Ph.D. programs as well as students who have taken earlier versions of the course.