Michelle O'Brien Email and Phone Number

Social research is my passion because it strives to answer questions about how and why people make decisions. In my work, I have primarily looked at how people make decisions during and after systematic violence. Because of the nature of this work, I have conducted much of my research in sensitive political and cultural contexts (especially in the case of post-conflict, authoritarian states). In these situations, data can be sparse, and traditional methods may not work.To that end, I use a mixed-methods approach to understand decision-making. Quantitative analyses, such as surveys, text analyses, and even computational simulations, generate insights into trends and associations. Qualitative analyses, such as semi-structured interviews and focus groups, unpack the 'why' of human behavior. Research design that incorporates both quantitative and qualitative methods provides a holistic perspective on what people (and groups of people) think and do, and why. Beyond conducting fieldwork and analyzing data, I consider public engagement a critical stage of the research process. In order for social research to have an impact on policies and programs, the findings need to be translated for diverse audiences. I have presented research findings to such audiences as: internal stakeholders, policy-makers from the Department of Defense, the United Nations Development Programme, union workers preparing to meet their representatives, K-12 educators incorporating international perspectives in their curricula, and public audiences. Stakeholder buy-in is critical to moving from abstract research findings to measurable change. Specialties & Interests: Mixed Methods Research, Computational Social Science, International Research, Analytics, Demographic Methods, Semi-Structured Interviews, Focus Groups, Longitudinal Survey Methods, Event History Analysis, Spatial Analysis, Causal Inference, Research Design, Public Speaking. I'd love to connect over challenging research questions, how COVID will change social processes, the promise of big data, and/or Sue Bird's dominance in the Western Conference.