Undergraduates learn 'Recipe for Success'

About 70 students gathered in Page Hall Thursday to hear Ohio State professors give advice on how to effectively develop, create and complete an undergraduate research project.

During “Recipe for Success: Basic Ingredients for Undergraduate Success,” undergraduate students received guidance on how to conduct research projects outside of science, technology, engineering and mathematical fields.

“You have to make a contribution,” said Edward Crenshaw, an associate professor of sociology. “You have to add to knowledge about a topic.”

Crenshaw said an undergraduate thesis should be a passionate contribution to a student’s field of interest rather than an obligation.

“It’s like a term paper on steroids,” Crenshaw said. “We’re talking about 35 to 45 pages of a compelling argument.”

Ways to make a Contribution

Crenshaw said there are many ways to make a contribution with an undergraduate thesis.

One of the most common ways to develop a thesis is to break new ground, Crenshaw said.

“Creating a research project that has already been done is pointless,” Crenshaw said.

Crenshaw said another way to create a relevant thesis is to go out and conduct unique field research.

“Conducting unique field research is a great way to demonstrate that you are generally interested in your project,” he said. “Curiosity is directly related to motivation. Motivation is essential to proving to your faculty mentor that you are serious about your undergraduate thesis.”

Finding a faculty mentor

“You have to get your faculty member as excited about your project as you are,” said Randy Schweller, a professor in political science. “The last time I checked, nine out of 10 undergraduate honors theses are not completed. So we can tell right away if a student is interested.”

Crenshaw said finding a faculty member is the hardest step in developing a research project.

“There are three components to finding a faculty mentor: inclination, time and expertise,” Crenshaw said. “You have to make sure a professor wants to help you with your project, has the time to help you and has the expertise to contribute to the topic of your project.”

Schweller said students should not let their faculty mentor create their project for them.

“Don’t be a sheep,” Schweller said. “Set the agenda with your mentor and be open to taking their advice.”

Picking a Topic

“Just start reading,” said Barbara Hanawalt, a professor of history. “In a sense, read for fun. Get into the scholarly readings after you have found an interest in a topic.”

Hanawalt said students should thoroughly enjoy their topics.

“When you’re reading scholarly article after scholarly article, you’ve got to love what you are doing,” Hanawalt said.

Schweller said a good research project is the result of compelling questions.

The conclusion should not be the final word; however, questions should open up an interesting conversation within the discipline, Schweller said.

“Interesting questions is the best part of good scholarly work,” Schweller said.

Abigail Miner/The Lantern