This
semester, I am conducting secondary data analysis on employment for previously
incarcerated individuals. I am looking at the first industry of employment for
people that have just ended their prison sentence, and if those industries that
are hiring ex-offenders varies dependent on the race/ethnicity and sex of the
individual.
I became
interested in my research for two reasons. First, it was a great intersection
of my two majors, criminology and sociology. It took a criminological topic,
incarceration and reentry, and looked at it through a sociological lens.
Second, I wanted to challenge myself to become more comfortable working with
data analysis and quantitative work, as content and qualitative is much more of
my comfort zone. To be completely honest, I was inspired by watching one of my
favorite shows Chopped on the Food Network! There were always professional
chefs who, either in their spare time or as a full-time job worked with
previously incarcerated individuals in the kitchen. This sparked my interest
not only due to my studies, but also just general intrigue as to why the food
industry would be such a hot spot for those with criminal convictions. I wanted
to see if this was just a stigma I created due to my experiences, or if it was
really a phenomenon.
I hope to
work heavily in non-profits in my life, hoping to one day run a non-profit
dream child that intersects food, helping those in need, and providing
employment opportunities to unique individuals. This research is giving me an
incredible knowledge foundation to take into the real world with me, whether I
am employed in a research based position or a non-profit.
On a
weekly basis, I spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer, trying to
get the coding right for my statistical analysis. I am self-taught on SPSS, so
a lot of time at the beginning was just figuring out how to get the program to
do what I wanted it to. I also meet with my mentor on a weekly basis to check
in and answer my many, many questions.
