I’ve started my first reading this week (a month ahead of the term start!) and it’s a real doozy: Chapter 14 of “Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences: A Pluralist Perspective” which is about research design. I’ve never had to design a higher-level academic research project before (the closest I’d say is my EPQ on mind emulation I did back when I was 17-18) nor have I taken many sociology or political science classes, so to dive right into the deep end with a pedagogical overview of research design is daunting – to say the least.

So far, I’ve read through the sections on taking ideas, conceptualising them, and formulating hypotheses which have been intriguing but sometimes difficult to parse. Overall, the reading seems to be geared towards giving nascient researchers the framework to research effectively, avoid common pitfalls, and challenge or contribute to existing knowledge. I’m looking forward to reading more about the various components of this “cycle” and further habituate reading into my study routine so that when the days gets shorter and drearier, I’ll have a practiced skill in reading efficiently (so I can go to bed early).

I also read a fascinating article today about the New World Screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) by a fellow Emory alum which can be read here. It’s a relatively lighthearted and educational article, covering the efforts to eliminate screwworm in the Americas, how its had a resurgence recently, and the social, political, and economic ramifications of outbreaks.