Political Representation Index of Turkey (PRIoT) (2011–2024)
Construction: Built a comprehensive, gender-coded longitudinal database mapping over 11,900 parliamentary candidates across four general elections (2011–2023), and 4,133 metropolitan local mayoral candidates across three local elections (2014–2024).
Methodology: Developed custom Python pipelines to extract, clean, and harmonize unstructured PDF data from official YSK records. Implemented a hybrid approach combining automated NLP gender-coding with rigorous manual verification, achieving a 99.76% accuracy rate against official state benchmarks.
Output: A multi-tiered relational database structured into three modules: PRIoT-N (National Assembly) and PRIT-E (Executive Mayors). While baseline gender demographics are mapped comprehensively across all tiers, the database captures granular data on intersectional inclusion and ideological profiles (secular vs. conservative) exclusively for higher-office candidates (PRIT-N and PRIoT-E).
Status: Phase 1 [PRIoT-N] is finalized and scheduled for public academic release on PRIoT Project section of this website soon.
Intersectional Identities of Mayoral Candidates in Turkey (2014–2024)
Construction: Constructed an original longitudinal dataset of female mayoral candidates across three election cycles (2014, 2019, 2024), covering all major political parties.
Methodology: Employed visual content analysis and name-based coding to categorize candidates by visible identity markers (e.g., Islamic headscarf usage) and ethnic background (Kurdish/Turkish if available), variables absent in official election returns.
Output: The Turkish Symbolic Inclusion Dataset, providing the first empirical evidence of how secular and Islamist parties strategically deploy women's visible identities to court polarized voters.
Nationally Representative Survey Experiment: Gender Diplomacy (US)
Construction: Designed and fielded a nationally representative survey experiment (N=1,241) targeting U.S. voters (with Lindsay Benstead).
Methodology: Randomized exposure to vignettes and photos depicting either an all-male or a gender-balanced Federal National Council in the UAE to test the "Gender Diplomacy" hypothesis.
Output: Data for the article "Is Gender Diplomacy Effective?," isolating the heterogeneous effects of women's representation on foreign perceptions of democracy versus support for security cooperation.
Survey Experiment on Gender Quotas & Reputational Security (US Students)
Construction: Fielded a web-based survey experiment (N=834) with U.S. university students (with Lindsay Benstead).
Methodology: Utilized vignettes regarding the UAE’s gender quota decision to measure the transfer of positive gender stereotypes (honesty, kindness) to state reputation.
Output: Empirical evidence for the book chapter "Conceptualizing Gender Diplomacy," establishing how "genderwashing" functions as a mechanism of reputational security.
Elite Interview Qualitative Archive (Turkey)
Construction: Conducted extensive fieldwork (2022–2024) to secure access to high-level party elites across the ideological spectrum in Turkey (N=30).
Methodology: Semi-structured in-depth interviews focusing on the opaque mechanisms of candidate selection, gatekeeping, and strategic nomination.
Output: A proprietary qualitative archive documenting the "demand-side" logic of symbolic inclusion and the internal calculus of party gatekeepers.