Examining Qualitative Research via Junior Essays: A Chat with Albert Lee, Class of '24
Albert Lee '24, a senior majoring in Sociology and pursuing a certificate in Journalism at Princeton University, has delved into a qualitative study focusing on the experiences of Asian American and Latin American undergraduate students, second-generation and beyond, in higher education spaces.
Lee's Junior Paper explores the complexities of family immigration history and cultural capital, providing a nuanced investigation into the lives of immigrant students at Princeton. This research method allows him to preserve participants' perspectives and contextual nuances, offering close, nuanced insights that might be limited in generalizability due to the small sample size.
Initially, Lee had planned to conduct a quantitative analysis for his Junior Paper. However, his adviser encouraged him to redefine his research question as a qualitative one due to the complexity of the topic. This shift allowed Lee to navigate the complexities of social belonging and the subjective nature of his research topic more effectively.
To gather data, Lee employed qualitative research methods such as interviews and textual analysis. Despite challenges in scheduling interviews due to busy interviewee schedules, Lee overcame this limitation by going into more depth with each interview and asking more detailed questions. Ultimately, he managed to interview seven out of the intended twenty interviewees.
Lee's research journey serves as a valuable lesson for other students working on their Junior Papers. He advises them to be flexible and open to changing their methodology and recruitment strategies. Moreover, he encourages students to remember that the research process is a learning experience and not to take criticism from advisers too personally.
Sociology majors at Princeton University are required to take SOC 300: Claims in Evidence and Sociology prior to writing their Junior Paper. This course equips students with the necessary skills to design and execute research projects, including both qualitative and quantitative methods.
In contrast to qualitative research, quantitative research involves measuring correlation and may require a large sample size. It emphasizes structured data collection using standardized instruments and statistical analysis to test hypotheses for generalizable results.
While qualitative research prioritizes depth, context, and meaning, quantitative research prioritizes measurement, statistical analysis, and generalizability. Junior Papers at Princeton University utilise these distinctions to match research questions and disciplinary norms in social sciences.
In practice, Junior Papers may involve qualitative research through methods like interviews, ethnography, or textual analysis to present detailed case studies or thematic investigations. Quantitative methods in this context could involve surveys or statistical analysis to examine correlations or causal hypotheses. Some projects might blend both in mixed-method designs for comprehensive analysis.
Lee's Junior Paper is a testament to the value of qualitative research in social sciences, offering a rich, detailed, and contextual understanding of the experiences of immigrant students at Princeton University. His work underscores the importance of flexibility, openness, and a willingness to learn in the research process.
The Junior Paper of Albert Lee '24, a sociology major, delves into education-and-self-development by exploring the learning experiences of Asian American and Latin American undergraduate students in higher education spaces, focusing on the complexities of family immigration history and cultural capital.
Although initially planning a quantitative analysis, Lee's Junior Paper is a nuanced qualitative study that provides close, contextual insights into the lives of immigrant students at Princeton, highlighting the value of education-and-self-development through qualitative research.
