Student RESEARCH

Research involvement allows students to learn career skills as they work with a faculty mentor to solve problems and create innovative solutions. At MSU, students can engage in research as early as their first year.

The Council on Undergraduate Research defines undergraduate research as a “mentored investigation or creative inquiry conducted by undergraduates that seek to make a scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge."

GET INVOLVED

This hands-on, outside-the-classroom experience helps students build technical skills, written and oral communication skills, and critical thinking skills. Students attend conferences to network with professionals, present their research, publish their research, and build their resumes.

What is research?

Research systematically investigates a specific topic by collecting and analyzing data to gain new knowledge and understanding. It often involves formulating a hypothesis, designing a study, gathering information, and interpreting results to contribute to a field of study or discipline—a structured approach to exploring and answering questions about the world around us.

There are many types of research, but two common types are:

Applied research focuses on solving real-world problems by finding answers to specific questions. For example, improving agricultural crop production, treating or curing specific diseases, etc.
Basic research expands knowledge by seeking answers to universal, theoretical questions. For example, what are protons? Or how did the universe begin?

More Information

What does creative inquiry mean?

Creative inquiry is the process of exploring issues, objects or works through collecting and analyzing evidence. It includes combining or synthesizing existing ideas, products, or expertise in original ways to answer an open-ended question or to achieve a desired goal. There needs to be a measurable, tangible impact.

Research and creative inquiry will look different depending on your goals and disciplines:

Definition: Pursuit of an answer to a question.

Examples:

Interviews and surveys will be conducted to answer the question: Why do people have their preferred social media platform? You’re searching for an answer to a question.
Interviews are pieced together in a documentary to answer the question: Does being raised in a non-religious family within an otherwise predominantly religious area impact self-perception?
Case studies should be examined to see if there is a correlation between a certain disease and a geographic location near the equator.

Definition: A systematic and thorough attempt to learn the facts about something complex or hidden.

Examples:

Participants were shown different scenarios and asked about their observations to explore how banter as a communication act is received and why it’s received the way it is.
Studying how a particular type of dance style can help reduce stress in children.
You think a type of fungi native to Kentucky can cure cancer in mice, and you set up experiments to test your hypothesis.

Definition: Introducing new ideas; original and creative thinking.

Examples:

Creating a new paint color that changes the color choices in hospice care or causes a shift in restaurant interior decorating because it’s seen as creating a comforting environment.
Creating ceramic dishware depicting women’s achievements throughout history would not be original unless it has been done many times over.
Creating a new form of computer coding.

*All these contribute new knowledge to your fields if presented, published, or performed.

Think about this, you could be:

Observing something interesting and trying to understand and/or explain
Identifying a need/challenge/opportunity and finding ways to solve it
Posing an idea or question to pursue an answer

Note: Classroom maintenance, office work, lab staffing, and assistance with classes/teaching are not considered research or creative inquiry.

“Participating in undergraduate research has allowed me to foster skills in communication, writing, and researching that I will use in my future career as a teacher.”

Gwen Akers

Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Engage in research as early as your first year.

Student Resources

Research resources for students.

Faculty Resources

Resources for faculty research mentors.

Opportunities for Students

Opportunities to present and publish your research.

Interest Form

Interested in being engaged in research, but aren’t sure where to start? Fill out our interest form. The Coordinator of Undergraduate Research will reach out once the form has been completed and submitted.

Interest Form