Memo+17+Study+Components

My literature review will be quite intensive as I will be drawing on several theoretical models, and multiple fields of history. Presently, included will be a review of:
 * Literature Review**
 * 1) Caribbean Piracy – Atlantic World History/Colonial Caribbean history, with a primary focus on Spanish, British and French colonial interaction and policy. Overviews of shipping and anti-piracy policy, indigenous-pirate relationships, the history and economics of pirate orientated communities and pirate epistemic cultures (sailing, repair and navigational knowledge).
 * 2) History of Quinine – This will include an overview of tropical medicine and will also cross several culture boundaries including Peruvian indigenous persons, British and Italian medicine primarily. Given my preliminary research into the history of Quinine, a look into the relationship between Peru (South America) and European missionaries will be included and an overview of biopiracy and bioprospecting will be necessary.
 * 3) Postcolonial and Subaltern Studies Theory
 * 4) SCOT
 * 5) Sociology of Knowledge

At this point in time it does not appear that this study will include ethnographic interviews or participant observation. However, the project plan does allow for some flexibility depending on the choice for contemporary case studies. Additionally, it may also become necessary or ideal to include some oral histories depending on my findings relating to indigenous knowledge.
 * Ethnographic Interviews/Participant Observation**

The majority of my time will be spent conducting a comparative analysis archival documents relating both the histories of and the policies surrounding my case studies. I believe that this will involve a considerable amount of data mapping in order to coordinate and draw parallels between so many different topics and events. It might be useful to use some sort of modeling software (I'm not sure if that is useful for historical analysis?). Throughout my research process I will be presenting small sections of my findings at various conferences both within and outside of the STS field. Additionally, I seek to publish in a variety of journals including: STS journals, history of medicine, cultural anthropology, the Atlantic world, and journals of postcolonial study. In order for my research to be valid I believe it will be important that it be accepted by both the STS community and the Atlantic World studies community.
 * Comparative Analysis of Archival and Policy Documents**