Project Index
Click on a project title to link directly to the project description.
Project FA21a: Characterizing Storytelling in COVID-19 Cartographic Journalism – position filled
Project FA21b: Parks, Intentional Communities, and Justice – position filled
Project FA21a: Characterizing Storytelling in COVID-19 Cartographic Journalism
Researcher: Tim Prestby tprestby@psu.edu
Position type: cartography/GIS; data journalism
Application deadline: open until filled
Application URL: https://sites.psu.edu/uroc/undergrads-apply-for-a-project/
Project and position description
If you are interested in maps and want to learn a valuable research method commonly used by geographers, this gig is for you! This project will analyze COVID-19 story maps by conducting a content analysis. Basically, content analysis in cartography is counting/measuring what you see. For instance, does a particular story map include annotations such as leader lines? Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to help me catalog a set of story maps based on two proposed cartographic design frameworks. You will not be coding the entire sample of 170 story maps I collected. Rather, you will be coding anywhere from 1/4-1/2 of the story maps. Your coding results will be compared to my results to ensure that the findings are consistent, and that the coding scheme works. The best part about content analysis is that you can put on a good podcast or shuffle one of your favorite playlists and get after it. I will be presenting our results in Italy at the International Cartographic Conference.
Desired qualifications
Successful completion of or current enrollment in GEOG 361 and strong attention to detail required. I am looking for highly motivated and responsible undergraduates to help me on this research adventure. I am looking for ideally two coders enrolled in 1-3 credits. The more credits you enroll in, the more maps you will code. Please reach out to me with any questions or concerns.
This project will require 45-135 hours of work over the course of the semester, and the successful applicant may earn 1-3 credits for the fall term.
Project FA21b: Parks, Intentional Communities, and Justice
Researcher: Jaclyn Weier juw963@psu.edu
Position type: literature review
Application deadline: position filled
Project and position description
This project will serve a dual purpose: first, in the compilation of resources across social science disciplines on the topics of National Parks, social justice, and intentional communities; and second, in accessing mentorship and community/environmental geographies knowledge. The final project will involve the analysis and presentation of the state of the literature on intentional communities, park reserves, and their intersections.
Desired qualifications
Preference will be given to students who have already taken human geography courses, and those students who are interested in the intersection of human and nature-society geographies.
This project will require 45 hours of work over the course of the semester, and the successful applicant may earn 1 credit for the fall term.