I'm very passionate about mentoring undergrads into the process of research. For my field, journalism studies, I commonly tell mentees that research skills are more important than ever in journalism. Understanding how to investigate, distill stories from data and organize complex information is the kind of work that gets you paid. I'd be curious to hear from others--how do you connect research to their professions? What do undergrads respond to?
My field is psychology where undergraduate students are often an integral part of research teams. At my university most are interested in graduate school as you need at least an MA to work in this field, and they want to learn research skills for their future careers. Most often the students are working day-to-day with my doctoral students on projects, but I have worked directly with them as well. The students come to us because they are interested in the kind of research we are doing. Our goal is to give them varied experience so they can learn the different tools involved. We try to work with them on their own projects where they can see a project through from beginning to end. Most of the time it is as an honor's thesis. Some of our students will present their findings at conferences and sometimes submit to journals. Many go on to graduate school and then professional careers.
Gregory, research is a fundamental part of not only academia but also daily life because as human beings there is that frequent desire to want to know, to find out, to analyse and synthesise information so as to make informed decisions about a range of problems. This is fundamentally a process of research. Teaching students such a process and providing opportunities for them to develop investigative, analytical and problem solving skills in various professions and linking these with what goes on in everyday life should be embedded in all walks of life. Interesting discussions here...
My field is psychology where undergraduate students are often an integral part of research teams. At my university most are interested in graduate school as you need at least an MA to work in this field, and they want to learn research skills for their future careers. Most often the students are working day-to-day with my doctoral students on projects, but I have worked directly with them as well. The students come to us because they are interested in the kind of research we are doing. Our goal is to give them varied experience so they can learn the different tools involved. We try to work with them on their own projects where they can see a project through from beginning to end. Most of the time it is as an honor's thesis. Some of our students will present their findings at conferences and sometimes submit to journals. Many go on to graduate school and then professional careers.
In our department we groom students through research guidance and industry academia interaction and that is achieved by Internship in various organization and mentoring of students by the Professor and Industry professional
Gregory Perreault The path to research for many of my students is the simple question: How can I improve what I am doing? We explore the question as real life development work through further questions like: What is my situation now? What is my concern? What changes do I need - do I want - do I dream of? What can I do about it? What am I willing to do to get there? These are action research question for change and might be outside of your question. Still this awakenes reflection and the need to explore the situation as it is. Relevant research is the key. Relevant research connected with real wants, needs and interests fuel motivation for exploration.
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