A Summer of Coding and Connections

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Alvin Agbenyegah, Angele Diamacoune, Lindsay Muneton, and Hannah Sung spent the summer studying the social impacts of genetic testing under the mentorship of Dr. Wendy Roth (Department of Sociology). This research was supported by the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program (PURM). Read Alvin's and Lindsay's reflections on this research experience below!

Alvin Agbenyegah ('27) is a student in the College of Arts and Sciences. Read more about his research experience below!

In a nutshell, our work involved combing through several interview transcripts of people who’ve taken DNA tests, identifying predefined social themes, and applying corresponding codes to assist Dr. Roth with her upcoming book on the broader implications of these genetic ancestry tests. As someone who’s taken one of these tests with results that made me question nearly everything I knew about my ethnic heritage, I was particularly drawn to this project and the opportunity to look at the ways DNA tests have impacted others. After reading over 50 interviews, I can say that every different perspective was more enlightening than the last, each with its own unique story. The new knowledge I’ve gained from this experience traverses beyond the social science of ancestry testing as I’ve become acquainted with cultures, histories, and identities I never would have been exposed to outside of this research.

In addition to the academic benefits I’ve reaped this summer, I’ve also made valuable connections that will last well past my undergraduate career. Working with my mentor during weekly meetings alongside five peers, three of whom also participated through PURM, was a rewarding experience. By building our intercoder reliability at the start of the program, which essentially ensured that we’d use the codes in the same ways, we developed a strong connection that extended to more than just coding transcripts. Whether getting meals together in University City or bonding over our experiences at Penn, participating in this research allowed me to form genuine friendships with my peers and a seasoned professional in my academic field of interest. Plus, this healthy, positive work environment was especially useful when the task of reading interviews felt daunting. I feel fortunate to have met everyone on the team and now feel closer to the Penn community with a few more meaningful relationships.

Upon reflecting on my research experience this summer, the biggest surprise came from the hidden complexity of a seemingly simple task. Although I never expected the qualitative data analysis process to be a breeze, I was still caught off guard by how much thought went into applying codes, particularly codes with similar themes and extremely subtle differences. While my mentor created resources to make this work easier, I found it was most beneficial to ask questions directly to my mentors. Letting go of my preconceived notions that this work was supposed to be straightforward and clearing up any misconceptions whenever they arose were the best things I could have done to improve my proficiency in coding the interview transcripts. In the long run, I’ve grown as a researcher and student, and have become more comfortable with setting my ego aside to speak up and ask questions whenever necessary.

Lindsay Muneton ('27) is a student in the College of Arts and Sciences. Read more about her research experience below!

I have never forgotten the confusion I felt as a young child filling out school forms when asked to select a race. I recognized myself to be of Hispanic ethnicity, but never quite knew what to put for my race. My parents were both of Caucasian and African ancestry, but I hesitated to declare myself multiracial. Depending on which side of my family you considered, I was either Black or White; in the United States, I was neither. The confusion over my racial identity initiated my interest in research regarding Hispanic identity throughout high school and continuing into my freshman year. As a result, I became highly interested in taking part in Dr. Roth’s research project regarding genetic ancestry tests and their effects on racial attitudes and behaviors.

This summer I was able to explore these interests by assisting Dr. Roth in coding interviews of participants in an initial survey she had conducted. The project involved examining people’s opinions on race, their attitudes towards different racial groups, and new behaviors they developed after learning the results of their genetic ancestry testing. Not only was I able to gain insight into participants’ different mindsets and cultures, I was able to read in-depth explanations about persisting questions I possessed regarding racial and ethnic identities.

Throughout my research journey, I became more confident in my ability to make decisions in the research process, but there were definitely some initial challenges. Albeit infuriating, these setbacks provided me with the power of patience; not everything can be fixed at once and requires consistent effort to obtain more experience and assurance in one’s abilities. I did not realize how important this experience would be to my growth as both a student and a person. I joined the program hoping to try out a new career possibility that sparked curiosity, but that I also found intimidating. The concept of making one’s own path when deciding what to research instead of following a path already laid down was frightening. Through discussions with my advisor and peers regarding graduate school and career options, the future stopped seeming bleak and started filling with endless possibilities.

Interested in reading more first-hand accounts about undergraduate research? Check out the other experiences featured on our Student News Page and Social Media!

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