Undergraduate Research Training Program

The URT program uses an apprenticeship model to introduce and engage undergraduate students with educational research. It is intended for those interested in developing research knowledge and skills over two semesters through coursework and participation in a research practicum.

The program is available to ALL undergraduates with interests in education. Therefore, Participants in the program come from a variety of majors. These include:

• Education (e.g., elementary education, special education, social studies education, English education, mathematics education, science education, engineering education) as well as
• The social sciences (psychology, sociology, law and society, political science, anthropology)
• Human Development and Family Studies
• Speech Language, and Hearing Sciences

The URT program is two semesters long. It begins in the Fall and continues in the Spring.

Each year, the number of students selected for the program ranges from 12-15.

The URT program has two components:

• A research practicum experience that provides the opportunity for a URT to work alongside an education faculty member and his/her research team.
• A 2-semester course sequence in research methods. The courses in this sequence:
  • Are reserved for the URT cohort.
  • Are graduate level courses (EDPS 53300 in the fall and EDPS 53400 in the spring).
  • Are taught on Wednesdays every week (5:30 – 7:30).
  • Contribute 6 credits toward the 15-credit minor in the Learning Sciences in Educational Studies

Each academic year, during the first week of classes in the fall, a list of research projects for which URTs are eligible will be shared with students admitted to the URT program Previous Student Research Projects (above).

URTs are asked to indicate their top three choices and are then assigned to one of their top three choices.

The stipend for URTs for the academic year is $1,500.

Yes, in the context of the URT course sequence (EDPS 53300 and EDPS 53400), you will have the option to develop your own research project.

URT research is highly visible through presentations in the OUR Fall Expo, AGSERS, and OUR Spring Expo.

URT projects may be individual, collaborative (with another student), or part of the URT research practicum (in consultation with their faculty research mentor).

Support for the development of conference proposals and presentations (posters, research talks, virtual presentations) is provided in the context of the URT coursework.

Fall topics address the following:

• Ethical Issues in Research
• Overview of Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods Designs
• Reviewing the literature and developing research questions
• Sampling in Quantitative and Qualitative Research
• Working with Descriptive Statistics
• Selecting and using Measures in Research

Spring topics are focused on Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods approaches to research. Specifically, we address:

• Data analytic methods in quantitative studies
• Survey research methods
• Group Designs (Correlational, Causal Comparative, and Experimental)
• Single case designs
• Data analytic methods in Qualitative studies
• Qualitative research designs (case studies, narrative inquiry, ethnographic research)
• Mixed methods research designs, including action research and design-based research.

• Develop research skills, competencies, knowledge
• Understand what it means to work with a research team
• Understand the methods used to produce our knowledge on teaching and learning
• Work with professors who are leaders in their fields
• Course sequence contributes to Learning Sciences in Educational Studies Minor
• Strong preparation for graduate school and beyond