Tag Archives: University of Washington

Thinking about causality with both numbers and reason

When you move from area studies to a social science, there are bound to be some changes of pace. Perhaps the most interesting problem to arise for me is how to understand causality and how to weigh the discipline’s emphasis on quantitative analysis with my considerably more developed skills in qualitative research and reasoning.

A professor of mine, Victor Menaldo, was kind enough to share with me his research note on two modes of causality after he read a book excerpt by another of our colleagues, Prof. James Caporaso. I found the discussions sufficiently interesting to write a note of my own, and Victor has posted all three on his blog, Pláwlotic.

If you’re interested in causality (and you should be!), I would love to hear comments. The post is largely my research note, but for the full story, the order should be Caporaso->Menaldo->Webster.

Internet and society resources at University of Washington

As a new graduate student at the University of Washington, I’ve been hunting around for the various projects, professors, centers, departments, etc., that deal with internet and society issues. I’m going to make a list of links here and update them from time to time. If you find this post and I’m missing something, drop me a line at gwebster [/a/] uw [/dot/] edu or leave a comment.

This may change in the future, but I’m keeping it alphabetical for now.

Last Updated 9 October 2010

Change – “ICTD at the University of Washington” affiliated faculty: Beth Kolko, HCDE; Chris Coward, iSchool; Gaetano Boriello, CSE; Ricardo Gomez, iSchool; Richard Anderson, CSE. – Holds regular events and has student, grad student, faculty, and other associates.
Information and Society Center – Information School. Projects on information literacy, etc.
Prof. Philip N. Howard – Department of Communication
Project on Information Technology and Political Islam – UW Department of Communication. Prof. Philip N. Howard. Associated with the World Information Access Project.
Technology and Social Change Group – “The Technology & Social Change Group (TASCHA) at the University of Washington Information School explores the design, use, and effects of information and communication technologies in communities facing social and economic challenges.”
World Information Access Project – Directed by Prof. Philip N. Howard.

A Trans-American move for Transpacifica

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Most readers who would find this news important already have heard, but for the under-informed and those who don’t care, I offer an update on moves in my life.

In May, I finished my master’s degree in Regional Studies–East Asia at Harvard. This month, after a long summer of travel, freelancing, research, and high-intensity relaxation, I will begin a Ph.D. in the Political Science Department at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Thus I have moved from Somerville to Seattle, where I welcome proximity to the Pacific itself, to mountains, and to excellent coffee and beer. I am also honored to join the UW’s community of scholars on East Asia and global affairs, both as a member of my new department and as an associate of the China Program at the Jackson School of International Studies.

That’s all for now, but look out soon for some news regarding my contributions to other blogs, and watch this fall for some academic work of mine to weasel its way into the public eye.

Finally, if you’re in Seattle, or if you’re coming through, drop me a line!

And now, a preview of my new digs: