Course Syllabus

Research Assistant: Futurization of Thinking and Behavior

 

Semester & Location:	Spring/Fall - DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:	Elective Course - 3 credits
Major Disciplines:	Psychology, Sociology
Faculty Members:	Anna Sircova, PhD, anna.sircova@dis.dk
Program Director:	Tina Mangieri, tma@disstockholm.se
Coordinator:	Kenzie Zimmer, mz@dis.dk
Time & Place:	Will be decided in consultation with research mentor

 

About the Research:

This multi-disciplinary project is looking into the emerging concept of ‘futurization’. The aim is to propose an empirical definition of this new concept and to disentangle it from the concept of the ‘future’. This pilot project explores the image of the future that citizens or laypeople have. What concepts and imagery do they associate with the term 'futurization'? What are the expressed and unexpressed hopes, dreams, fears and anxieties? The project aims to identify opportunities to foster long-term thinking in individuals. This research will explore, for example, the potential benefits for transformations towards sustainability of a conscious approach to long-term thinking and behaving. The project links research perspectives on future challenges and sustainable actions in daily life of an individual.

This project seeks to develop an empirical representation of future imaginaries and social practices related to futurization of thinking and behavior of an individual. It aims to provide insight into: What are the mechanisms we can use to see the possible futures? How can we bring these desired futures closer and turn them into reality? How can we incorporate future thinking in our behaviors? How can we expand our temporal horizon and develop new cognitive abilities? How can we learn to deal with the massive amount of uncertainty and anxiety that this perspective brings? And, more generally, does such time awareness lead to more sustainable behaviors, decisions, and/or policy-making? It also aims to find out how can we co-create more meaningful spaces of futurization that would inspire us to make more meaningful actions, that would help us to overcome our amotivation.

Research project components:

• developing an inventory allowing to tap into the various sides of ‘futurization’ concept and ways to distinguish it from the concept of ‘future’;
• pilot testing the inventory and adjusting it;
• conducting focus-groups;
• building up a prototype of an interactive installation;
• presenting results at an international meeting(s);

Researcher Bio:

Anna Sircova, PhD in Psychology, has over 10 years of research experience in exploring the concept of time. Passionate for cross-disciplinary approach, arts and other creative endeavors. Currently Head of the Board at Time Perspective Network, an international research association that unites people across 40+ different countries passionate about the concept of time. At DIS teaching Psychology of Time and Psychology of Endings. Owner of the Creative Time Studio, Copenhagen, Denmark. Her research is published in various journals and book chapters. Her creative projects have been exhibited in Sweden, Latvia, Denmark, Tunisia, France and Germany. 

Description of role and responsibilities of the Research Assistant

You are expected to spend a minimum of 10 hrs per week on the project. The workload may vary over the semester. If you are travelling to do field research in a different location, additional time may be required. 

As research assistant you will:

1. Participate in weekly meetings with your research mentor at a time set collectively at the beginning of the semester.
2. Participate in two workshops during the semester:
   1. A workshop at beginning of the semester: orientation and strategies for successful international research work
   2. A final workshop discussing strategies and best practices for effective communication of research, especially to those not in the field
3. Write an assessment of your own strengths and weaknesses in the research process at the beginning of the semester. Revisit at the end of the semester as part of an evaluation of your own participation in, and learning from, the research project.
4. Keep a research journal and submit it in person or via email every week (or another specified interval) to your research mentor, describing the activities of the week, and outlining goals for the following week.
5. Conduct literature reviews.
6. Participate in carrying out the research project. These may include: conducting literature review, participating in designing the research study, collecting data, analyzing the data, taking part in developing the prototype for the installation, presenting parts of the research project, assisting in designing and leading the focus-groups. The specific responsibilities in a given semester vary depending on the phase of the project and will be set by the research mentor at the beginning of the semester. Be prepared to contribute to tasks that may come up during the semester. Research processes are not always predictable.  
7. Present the relevance of the research and/or findings to peer(s) from other disciplines at the End of Semester Showcase.
8. Make a final oral and/or written presentation of the research you are involved in, depending on what is agreed with your research mentor.

Learning Objectives

The primary objective is for you to experience the world of research and gain experience that will prepare you for any future career you choose to pursue. By the end of the semester you will grasp the complexities of the research project, and have made your own contribution to the project. You will also have learned to communicate ideas and findings, both orally and in writing, to members from your particular discipline as well as peers from other disciplines.   

The objectives for this specific project include:

- Gain experience in developing a research study design

- Gain experience in developing a study specific questionnaire and conducting pilot quantitative research

- Gain experience in data analyses

- Present findings in a research poster and communicating information in the academic style of the field to fellow students and faculty at DIS

- Develop new ways of presenting research results via building a prototype for an installation

- Become familiar with the academic writing style of the field

Readings

The readings will be agreed on with the mentor at the beginning of the semester, and the exact content will differ depending on your background. You will receive guidance concerning the basics of research methodology, concepts, study designs, methods of analysis, etc.

The nature of this research project is very exploratory and it is not mainstream (yet), therefore, it allows for more creativity with finding the relevant readings, as there is not much available at the moment. We will be looking for relevant literature from various disciplines.

Field research (optional) 

Some research projects include field research. Expenses related to field work will be covered by a DIS travel grant. The field work will be planned with the research mentor at the beginning of the semester.

Approach to Mentoring

All DIS research mentors have been trained in mentoring students but their approach to mentoring may differ. Mentoring is about engaging at a different - and often deeper - level than what is typical in the class room. However, mentoring also comes with some degree of ambiguity, which is important for you to be prepared for. The research mentor will work closely with you throughout the semester but part of the training is also for you to use your own judgement, to make assessments and decisions. As part of planning your tasks and responsibilities for the semester together, the research mentor will talk to you about her/his approach to mentoring.

Expectations of the Research Assistant 

The specific expectations of the individual research assistant are agreed upon at the beginning of the semester. In general, a research assistant is expected to take initiative, take ownership of the project and work independently. You must also be prepared for meetings and be willing to part take in relevant discussions. In cases where more research assistants are involved in the same project, you will be expected to engage in some teamwork. Carrying out a research project is not a straight forward and predictable process. This is part of what makes it exciting. It also means that communication is crucial. You are expected to take responsibility for communicating about problems or issues that arise.

Workshops & Orientation
All sessions are mandatory.
Orientation: August 19, 16.30-17.30 in V10-A22
Workshop 1: September 18th, 17.15-18.45 in V10-A22
Workshop 2: November 13th, 17.15 in V10-A22
Research Symposium @ End of Semester Showcase: December 11th

Data

The data collection procedure for this study follows ethical codes of conduct for qualitative research, including confidentiality and anonymization of data. The research assistant will be asked to sign a form requiring compliance with the confidentiality of the information in the dataset.

The data collected as part of the project cannot be taken home or used later by the research assistants outside the project or for a separate project until the data is presented in publication. However, if relevant, the research assistants’ journaling can be included in the research and the research assistant is free to use this in their own future research.

Evaluation and grading

All research assistants are assessed on their participation in the seminar on responsible research practices, weekly status reports to the research mentor, self-evaluation and presentation to peers from other disciplines. Additional evaluation and grading depends on the individual research project and project phase and is outlined by the research mentor at semester start. It may include literature reviews, a poster presentation for an expert panel, a working paper, etc.

Journal	10%
Research Paper Draft	20%
Research Presentation	20%
Research Paper Final	30%
Participation	20%

 

Disability and Resource Statement  

Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Academic Support (acadsupp@dis.dk) to coordinate this.  In order to receive accommodations, students should inform the instructor of approved DIS accommodations within the first two weeks of classes.

Policies

Attendance

It is crucial for your learning that you stay on task and hand in assignments on or before the due date. All work– including in-class projects – have to be completed in order to pass the class. Late papers or projects will be marked down with 1/3 of a grade for each day it is late.

Academic Honesty

Plagiarism and Violating the Rules of an Assignment

DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their own work and credit all work or thought taken from others. Academic dishonesty will result in a final course grade of “F” and can result in dismissal. The students’ home universities will be notified. DIS reserves the right to request that written student assignments be turned in electronic form for submission to plagiarism detection software.  See the Academic Handbook for more information, or ask your instructor if you have questions.

Academic Regulations

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