Xiaobo Ma '09 (Chengdu, China) thinks big. Interested in the trend of growing individualism in Chinese college students, the sophomore math and economics major applied for and received an Emerson grant to investigate them, advised by Cheng Li, the William R. Kenan Professor of Government.
Ma's investigation was based upon the analysis of surveys of Chinese college students distributed by various Chinese research institutes. She had originally planned to conduct interviews with students and write her own survey. Once the summer began, however, the logistics of the project forced Ma to adjust her plans; "I think I was too ambitious," she said. Instead of writing her own survey, she chose to focus on a strenuous analysis of the existing ones.
Ma did most of her research by using these surveys, although she also read widely on her subject, consulting sources in both English and Chinese. She explained that she had been to libraries in Chengdu, China; Boston and Washington, D.C.
Her conclusions regarding the surveys focused mainly on their inadequacies. Ma explained that the surveys did not cover a large enough sample size of Chinese students and that in several cases, the construction of the question could have influenced the student being surveyed. She pointed to one case in particular where word choice was problematic: the questions used the word "individualism," which in Chinese carries a negative connotation.
Her end goal when she proposed the project had more to do with the future of China than with the present conditions. Ma explained that there was a "dramatic change" in the way Chinese college students thought of themselves and others and that this new level of individuality was unusual in China, which has traditionally been a country more informed by collectivism than individualism. But the future of the country, Ma suggested, may be in individualism. As a conclusion, she broadened this idea from social conformity to ideological conformity and explained that she felt China was moving towards a democratic form of government. "I think individualism connects well with democracy," she said.
Ma came to the project with an interest developed by an introductory course in political theory and a background in research. While still in high school, Ma did research into schooling in the rural areas of China. She carried out this research purely for her own interest and went out and asked people questions. "It was a pretty good experience for me," she said. "I just wanted to make some changes." It was the same wish to understand and make changes that motivated Ma to seek an Emerson grant.
After a "very productive" summer, Ma will start her year as an RA in Root Hall. She plans to be involved with the Spectator and the International Students Association, and possibly several other organizations. Although she has no plans to continue with her research in this vein, she said that she would be "really glad if [she] could do some kind of follow-up."
Her research this summer was funded by the Emerson Foundation Grant Program, which allows students to work closely with a faculty member researching in-depth an area of the student's interest.
- Lisbeth Redfield
