Rachel Way

Political Science master's student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Tell us a little about yourself, including what inspires you to learn and continue in your chosen field

I am passionate about using data to help answer pressing questions that face our society. I am always excited to learn, whether it be through travelling, studying, or research. This curiosity has led me to pursue my MA student in political science where I will continue to research political behaviour and comparative politics. Prior to my MA, I completed a bachelors degree in political science (honours) with a minor in social data analytics also at SFU.

Why did you choose to come to SFU?

As an undergraduate student I participated in the Social Data Analytics minor at SFU, where I became fascinated by the ability to use data to help solve important questions in the social sciences. I learned a variety of skills in data analysis and visualization which I was able to apply to many research projects I am passionate about. To improve and further my research skills as well as continue to learn from my supervisor, Dr. Steve Weldon, I enrolled in the Accelerated Masters Program in Political Science. The Accelerated Masters program is an excellent opportunity for undergraduate students to begin working on their Masters degree while still finishing their undergrad. The Accelerated MA has afforded me the opportunity to begin researching and learning at a Master’s level.

How would you describe your research or your program to a family member?

As a researcher, I study political behaviour which I understand as being how people engage with various forms of politics. I am interested in answering questions like why people vote a certain way, or why they are willing to engage in conflict in some circumstances but not others. To answer these questions I use social data analytics which are tools such as statistics and data visualization to allow for the identification of trends, relationships, and patterns in political behaviour in both Canada and abroad.

What three (3) keywords would you use to describe your research?

Political Behaviour, Conflict, Comparative Politics

How have your courses, RA-ships, TA-ships, or non-academic school experiences contributed to your academic and/or professional development?

When I first began my undergraduate degree, I was set on working in International Relations, hoping to one day become a diplomat. I partook in SFU’s coop program where I worked at the U.S. Consulate General Vancouver and was later hired as a contractor for my writing and investigative skills. I soon noticed that what I found the most interesting about my role was identifying a problem, researching it, and communicating my findings to policy makers to help guide their decisions. This experience helped me to identify my passion for research, and is a large part of why I am now pursuing my Master’s degree and hopefully one day, PhD.

Contact Rachel:rachel_way@sfu.ca