Undergraduate Research (Closer Look)
What are Some Examples of Undergraduate Research at TRU?
Undergraduate students describe their subject specific research experiences in the video below:
Are you interested in more student experiences? Visit our CURN (Canadian Undergraduate Research Network) site – created by students, for students, to share excitement about undergraduate research at TRU: https://curn.trubox.ca/
What is Expected of Undergraduate Research Students?
If the stories above sound appealing, and you wonder what would be expected of student undergraduate researchers at TRU, join us in reading on.
Research
In the introduction, we highlighted the scientific method. What other concepts define research at a university level? Bougie and Sekaran (2020) list eight hallmarks of research:
- Purposiveness
- Rigor
- Testability
- Replicability
- Objectivity
Purposiveness
As an undergraduate researcher, you need to fully understand the purpose of the research study that you participate in. The research objectives will help guide how you approach your role in the project. Palys and Atchison (2008) note that although a fundamental characteristic of research is that it is done systematically, it doesn’t mean that a person can pull out a copy of rules that would apply universally, always. Rather, researchers make careful decisions as they progress, keeping the study’s purpose in a forefront of their minds. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, and a shared vision helps the research team go the intended direction throughout the research journey.
Rigor
University research studies are anchored in academic theories and findings, and the investigative process carries the highest level of precision and exactitude possible (rigor). Rigor establishes people’s confidence in the research findings. As an undergraduate researcher, you would be expected to follow process thoughtfully and consistently to maintain the reliability and validity of your study’s research findings.
Testability and Replicability
A hypothesis (a theory-based expectation of what the researchers are hoping to find) must be testable – anyone should be able to analyze (or test) the results of the study. Replicability means that researchers transparently share their detailed research design and methods to allow other researches to replicate their research in the future. Findings that cannot be tested and/or replicated by other researchers are not considered scientific. You may be asked to keep consistent, detailed records of what you do to add to the replicability of a study.
Objectivity
Objectivity is an important element to keep in mind throughout the research process. As unique individuals, our understanding of the world is shaped by our individual experiences. Every day, we make decisions, evaluate situations, or express feelings and opinions based on our subjective perspectives. Subjectivity is very valuable to us; at the same time, we need to be cautious that we don’t answer our own questions before we start our research, favoring sources or data that agree with our preconceived answer. In research, this is called bias, and it refers to a situation in which personal perspectives or choices affect the research process and outcomes.