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Andrew Rigney is a senior studying political science and history. His research is in international security and relations, and his adviser is Dr. Randall Schweller from the Department of Political Science and Mershon Center for International Security Studies.
What specifically do you research? What projects are you currently working on?
My general areas of research are international relations and international security. More specifically, I concentrate on the causes of war, alliance formation, state behavior determinants, elite decision-making, and international relations theory. Currently I am exploring the international behavior known as underexpansion. Underexpansion occurs when a state has the opportunity to expand (i.e. economically, politically, territorially, and/or militarily) but chooses not to. The study seeks to determine whether this behavior is the result of individual, domestic, or international variables. Not only is a detailed study of underexpansion beneficial for international relations theory, it can also assist decision-makers understanding of other states’ behavior.
How do you actually conduct your research?
For those who think research in the social sciences is easy, think again. Unlike the hard sciences, I can not go and test my theories with trials again, and again… and again. Instead I comb through historical records or statistical information to test my theoretical frameworks and models. My day is spent reading (books, journals, articles, primary sources, etc.), looking up more sources, summarizing, writing, revising, and then writing again. It is a continual cycle that can at times seem never-ending. The process is a mix between being a scientist, a writer, a historian, and a librarian. All in all it is pretty hard work for doing research in a “soft” science.
What have been the benefits of participating in research?
This research experience has given me a new appreciation for scholarly work in general. It is an extremely difficult task not only to find a topic, but also to concentrate countless hours to the study of that subject. Time after time I have found myself wanting to give up because my work seems insurmountable, but persistence is the key to such an endeavor. Not only has this research project taught me patience, I have also greatly improved my writing and analytical skills. Through constant reading and writing, my ability to synthesize complex topics and develop ideas of my own has increased considerably. I am thankful that the skills that I have acquired conducting research will pay dividends later in my professional career.
What advice would you give to current undergraduates who want to get involved in research?
Just get out there and do it. It may sound cliché but the only way to do the research that you want to do is if you take the initiative. Personally, my first research experience was the result of talking with a professor who deeply influenced my thinking about the field. I eventually assisted him in some of his work, and he became my thesis advisor. It can be hard, especially for procrastinating undergraduates, to pursue a task that has little oversight. You are responsible to get into the lab, the field, the library, etc. and get the work done. Disregard doubt and pessimism, and do the work you know you are capable of.
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