Should I explain which countries I plan to study in more detail? (comparative-historical sociology)

[avatarmomo]

Hi everyone,

 

Although I have finished majority of my applications, and I am not considering to make major changes in my statement of purpose, I wanted to ask you about how to mention which regions and countries I plan to study in my PhD studies. I am interested in studying comparative-historical sociology. In my SOP, I mentioned extensively about social processes (e.g. ethnic mobilization, capitalist development ) in my country, which obviously I am most familiar with. Then, I mentioned some other regions and countries (e.g. Latin America, India etc.) saying I might compare how these social processes took different forms in those countries. But, I did not go into detail except saying that these countries share some similar economic and social trajectories in one-two sentences. Instead I gave some examples of the questions I plan to ask.

 

Should I explain why I chose those countries and identify similar historical and economic developments in more detail? Or should I let the admission committee know that I have not decided on which countries to study yet?

 

I may want to make some minor changes before I submit my SOP for my remaining applications. Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

 

[jacib]

Don't panic.  I wrote my SOP for historical comparative as well, and my cases were "definitely Turkey", "also probably France", and a "I don't know, maybe India" (in more elegant language, obviously).  Everyone knows that part of your topic is going to change and part will stay the same.  I am doing religion and the state in Turkey, but instead of historical-comparative, it's become much more ethnographic (with an adviser who works a lot on the state, and some on religion).  One of my colleagues wrote in her SOP about doing networks in education, she's now doing historical-comparative networks (with an adviser who works on networks, and some on historical-comparative).  You don't need to fake a large amount of detail on a project you'll never actually end up doing, just make sure your comparisons have a clear reason, and the potential to be bother doable and interesting.  It's much more to show that you can identify i) an interesting project, ii) that can be done at the school you're applying to, and iii) completed in a reasonable amount of time, with iv) the skills you already have or will learn in the first few years of graduate school.  Even at the level of prospectus stage, one of the professors in my program basically said, "For a qualitative project like yours, we want to see the general outline of the questions you're asking and enough details to know that you'll recognize interesting data when you see it."  Sounds like your SOP is going just fine.

[Maleficent999]

I might mention something about being open-minded and leaving room for growth.

Edited December 26, 2013 by Maleficent999

[avatarmomo]

Thank you for the suggestions. Based on your comments, I guess there is not much to change in my SOP at this point. One question for jacib tough: I am a little puzzled about how to convince the adcomm that my research can be completed in a reasonable amount of time. Obviously, I will not try to come up with some huge projects like Mann's Sources of Social Power. Mine is going to be a straightforward historical comparative study, probably touching upon the fields of political economy, social movements, and ethnicity. What should I avoid in order to convince the adcomm that my research is doable?

 

By the way, if you are planning to do ethnographic research in Turkey, I may provide some help when you arrive here. So, keep in touch if you need anything.

 

Good luck Maleficient with your applications. And thank you jacib for being around to help future admits.

[cultsoc]

as always, jacib is pretty spot-on with his advice. i'd encourage you to relax and keep things as they are on your sop.

 

also, you should note that adcomms know and expect your research interests will expand or go in another direction once you get started at your program. this happens quite often; people start off wanting to do one thing, but end up picking up different interests along the way.

 

it sounds like you have clearly defined research interests that are sociologically and theoretically informed and relevant, and that's all you need to show on your sop. best of luck.

Edited December 26, 2013 by cultsoc

[Daniel.Peng]

well, avatarmono, I think you have done a great job. If you have mentioned your interests and ideas about your own country and make it impressive, then it is OK.  Things change fast and you don't need to make a detailed research outline and timeline for your project. The key point is to demonstrate that you match this program, that is, your previous studies, your interests and other qualifications are perfect for this program.  Of course, that's all my own opinion.

By the way, thank you very much for your comments on my SOP.

Good luck with your applications.

[jacib]

Thank you for the suggestions. Based on your comments, I guess there is not much to change in my SOP at this point. One question for jacib tough: I am a little puzzled about how to convince the adcomm that my research can be completed in a reasonable amount of time. Obviously, I will not try to come up with some huge projects like Mann's Sources of Social Power. Mine is going to be a straightforward historical comparative study, probably touching upon the fields of political economy, social movements, and ethnicity. What should I avoid in order to convince the adcomm that my research is doable?

 

Three things, in declining order of importance.  1) Don't plan on writing a huge book like Wallerstein or Mann or even Tilly as your dissertation.  Tilly's dissertation was The Vendee which is a much smaller, more archive based, more traditional book than the later books we know and love.  Don't plan on having multi-volumes, etc.  The fact you have a limited number of cases shows me you're find on this account.

 

2) (for historical comparative people only, really) Don't plan on learning more than one language.  More generally, plan on getting some new skills, but don't make your ideas revolve entirely on gaining an unreasonably large amount of skills (I've seen people do this, come in with know quant skills, for instance, and develop them to do purely quant dissertation, and one of my colleagues is learning two more languages in addition to the two or three he already has, but generally just keep things reasonable)

 

3) Fitting into this, the other thing is just make sure to sell the skills and background that you already have that are applicable for the project.  Some people are overly modest, and the SOP is not the place for it.  Some people tell you should present a "hero narrative", where you basically say "I have the perfect skills for this project, me alone".  See this post from the blog "The Professor is In".  That's not a bad way to think about it, but it might be easier to argue "What about me makes me uniquely qualified to do this project?  What am I going to do (at school X) to make myself more qualified?"  I bet you already have that stuff in mind. 

 

Anyway, almost every presents a doable project, I think.

 

By the way, if you are planning to do ethnographic research in Turkey, I may provide some help when you arrive here. So, keep in touch if you need anything.

 

Türk müsünüz?  Türkiye vakalarından biriyse Ahmet Kuru, Sener Akturk, ve Ateş Altınordu'yu oku.  Nerelisin?  Istanbul'da üç yıldır kaldım ama (inşallah) Kayseri ve çevresinde araştırmamı yapacağım.  But anyway, I'm trying to keep track of all the people who study Turkey (or the Middle East) in sociology departments so if you're in that bucket, definitely stay in touch and I'll help out when I can on this side of the Atlantic.

[gretagarbo]

I also wrote about a comparative-historical research project I have in mind in my SOP. However, a friend from Berkeley advised me to specify the countries I want to study, but I don't think its a good advise. You have to outline the project you want to do in terms of the general sociological issues it relates to, you don't need to specify it to such extent. 

[avatarmomo]

Jacib, thank you for the great and really helpful advice. And yes, I am from Turkey. Currently I live in Istanbul. I have read some works by the scholars you recommended, although my research interests are different. I would add Umit Cizre and Rusen Cakir to your list if you have not read them already. Cizre was my advisor and she is an authority in the field of state-military relationship in Turkey. But, she also wrote a number of books and articles on Islamic political parties and especially on the AKP. Rusen Cakir, although not in academia, is a specialist in Islamic organizations. I am not sure if his books have been translated into English though. Anyway, good luck with your graduate studies and thanks again for your help.

 

Daniel, thank you for your suggestions. I am glad you found my comments helpful. Your SOP is really well written and I believe it is going to be appreciated by the schools you are applying to. I am also applying to NYU, and I can say that your fit is better compared to mine. Best of luck with your applications.