World of Research

Contribute to the advancement of knowledge in a variety of fields ...

RESEARCH

Many academic programs at CWRU provide opportunities for students to work on research projects independently or as a member of a research team. Research projects at CWRU are numerous and diverse. Although the purpose and methods of research can be very different in each college and school at CWRU, if you participate in a research project, you will learn to understand the process of academic inquiry, which is transportable and applicable to most environments and situations. Understanding this process will prepare you for multidisciplinary studies and for a lifetime of learning. The process of academic inquiry in research typically includes the following:

" Identify and articulate research questions " Consult a body of established knowledge (review published and unpublished literature and other media, such as audio and video recordings) " Interact with others about possible responses " Collect and analyze data/information " Reflect upon and hypothesize about the data/information " Evaluate the research process and the results " Share (or disseminate) your process and your results through presentations and publications " Implement projects/solutions that address your hypotheses and/or conduct more research

COURSEWORK

Academic courses are available in every college and school at CWRU that offer an opportunity for the student to integrate classroom and non-classroom learning experiences. In addition to providing you with practical academic experiences, courses that integrate non- classroom learning also provide opportunities for you to receive formal evaluations of your work. Evaluations are typically based upon a final project, which may include a written report or presentation. Evaluation is an important component in the learning process. It can help you measure your progress and, therefore, help you make more informed decisions about the types of classroom and non-classroom experiences that you would like to pursue in the future.

"Experiences such as SPUR have opened my eyes to the world of research. I loved being able to apply the knowledge I gained through my courses to novel, challenging research problems. I especially enjoyed being able to apply cutting edge technologies to problems that impact human welfare in the Greater Cleveland Community. I have decided to enter graduate school next fall to study for a Ph.D. which will enable me to enter a research-based career."

-Elijah Petersen