Sidhartha Basu
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- My Published Research
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- High School Leadership
- Recognitions
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- About Me
- Journeys of Belonging
My Published Research
Published Research
I have always sought to work on and examine social problems that combine my interests in anthropology, computer science, statistics, and math. My passion for this type of research intensified when I heard one of my close friends become a victim of identity fraud. This prompted me to begin my first research project on understanding the key drivers of fraud. I contacted several professors and was subsequently denied an offer from most of them. However, I collaborated with Dr. D’Arcy P. Mays, a Professor and Founding Chair of the Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Dr. Mays is also the Associate Dean for Research and Operations at VCU’s College of Humanities and Sciences.
In addition to my interests in statistics and math, I also share a strong passion for anthropology and African languages. This inspired me to take a college-level course in Anthropology under Dr. Christopher Brooks, an internationally acclaimed anthropologist whose publications have been reviewed by the New York Times, Washington Post, and Chicago Tribune. While in the course, I earned an academic distinction from Dr. Brooks and was selected to become his research assistant for a future publication and ethnography he was conducting on medical practices in Kenya called Dual Pandemics.
I have also conducted research that aims to improve the educational experiences of the refugees I teach at my local nonprofit. I have presented this research at a professional conference, including the American Anthropological Association’s Annual Transitions Conference
Identity Fraud Research - Published at Harvard - Journal of emerging investigators - Published Oct. 2024
American Anthropological Association Research
Dual Pandemics Research
Identity Fraud Research - Published at Harvard - Journal of emerging investigators - Published Oct. 2024
Understanding the Battleground of Identity Fraud
Abstract
Identity fraud has rapidly expanded into one of the fastest-growing white-collar crimes in the US. Beyond its substantial economic toll, resulting in billions of dollars in losses to the economy, identity fraud inflicts significant financial losses and mental distress upon its victims. With increasing online activity and the growing frequency of significant data breaches, the complexity and scale of identity fraud continue to grow. However, most academic research in this space has been focused on identifying cognitive behaviors and interventions at the individual level. Addressing a complex, multifaceted social issue like identity fraud necessitates a more comprehensive understanding of its underlying drivers at a broader macro level. This study employs statistical methodologies to examine and analyze the factors influencing identity fraud in the US across a wide spectrum of variables using data from 2005 to 2021. A total of 12 explanatory variables, including macroeconomic indicators, sociodemographic factors, and criminal behavior, were analyzed. We identified the statistically significant variables associated with identity fraud through multiple linear regression, ANOVA, and multicollinearity analysis. Our analysis supported the hypothesis that the national unemployment rate, online banking usage, and incidence of fraud-related offenses were statistically significant variables in explaining identity fraud. Although not statistically significant, the increasing occurrence of data breaches and cyber-attacks and their implications for data security and privacy may warrant further attention. The overarching objective of this study is to establish a macro-level framework to understand identity fraud better, thereby fostering subsequent research and intervention efforts at both the individual and societal levels.
American Anthropological Association Research
Cultural Anthropology’s Role in Educating Congolese Refugee Children- Presented at American Anthropology Association Annual Transitions Conference (November 2023)
Abstract
The world is witnessing one of highest levels of transnational migration on record due to global conflict, persecution, violence or human rights violation. However, the struggles of refugees are not over with their migration to a new country with the daunting process of assimilation to a foreign society, culture, and, language. Children are some of the worst affected often with none to little schooling in their home country and having to start afresh in their new country. In the US, the high-school dropout rates of refugee children are almost the double national average. This paper uses anthropological techniques to help boost literacy among Congolese refugee children in the US. The study involves my volunteering work for the last couple of years with a refugee organization teaching Congolese refugee children English and math. Despite the best attempts by their teachers in school these kids lag behind their peers due to vast differences in culture and language that become hard for the school to overcome. We tried to diagnose the problem using cultural anthropology methods, studying the history and culture of the Congolese people along with ethnographic research using observation and interviews. Our analysis revealed that these kids feel a lack of appreciation of their culture and sense of loss of control over their learning. With these insights, we experimented by making the learning process a two way street with the student learning English from their teacher and the teacher learning Swahili from the student. Though the experiment has a small sample size, the early results are very favorable with positive feedback and a marked improvement in school grades. The aim is to further this study with expert guidance from professional anthropologists at the AAA meeting on additional related research work along with more refined techniques of doing such ethnographic research.Dual Pandemics Research
I was a research assistant under Dr. Brooks and was part of his research team as the youngest member.
The anthropological research is focussed on communities in Kenya where the dual pandemics of HIV and Coronavirus have manifested. The research is based on first hand narratives and field studies done across a wide range of health care workers, traditional healers called “mgangas”, afflicted patients and their supporting families and friends across both male and female genders. The research highlights the challenges of healthcare facilities and maintenance, lack of disclosure, fear of rejection from family and society, lack of education, lack of disclosure of seropositive status from intimate partners as several socio-cultural factors that make combating such pandemics in Kenya more challenging. The research indicated a general trend with people living in rural areas being more judgmental than urban areas, the necessity of good mental healthcare as the pandemic coupled with cultural factors have made this worse and negative generalizations between schooling and contracting coronavirus. The research participants were selected fairly equally between male and female though some groups like LGTBQ+ could not be interviewed due to the laws in Kenya. These groups often tend to be hit hardest due to cultural and legal systems slowing down the effectiveness of the treatment.
