FRI Research Methods

Image: FRI HARP 170 Research Methods students working in our state of the art Learning Lab, a classroom specifically designed for collaboration.
FRI HARP 170 Research Methods students working in our state of the art Learning Lab, a classroom specifically designed for collaboration.
This 2-credit seminar course (HARP 170) covers these topics in parallel to student teams developing and presenting a course-long project. Each project explores a real science problem, with students delving into what is known, what isn't known, and why and how they suggest investigating some portion of the unknown.

The course ends with a public poster presentation by student teams. This framework-and-process course helps students develop their skills to think like a scientist. After this course, FRI students begin laboratory work in their assigned research stream, beginning in their first-year spring semester.

Image: First-year FRI Neuroscience students presenting their pre-proposal research project to neuroscience faculty member Dr. Chris Bishop at the Fall 2019 FRI annual poster session.
First-year FRI Neuroscience students presenting their pre-proposal research project to neuroscience faculty member Dr. Chris Bishop at the Fall 2019 FRI annual poster session.

Research Methods Seminar topics include:

  • Emerging fields of research
  • Designing a research project
  • Finding & using library & internet resources
  • Data collection & management
  • Basic statistics
  • Data analysis, including figures & charts
  • Reporting research results
  • Powerpoint presentations
  • Posters for public professional meetings
  • Teamwork & collaboration
  • Research ethics
  • Planning & charting your career path

This course is approved for "O" (Oral) general education requirement. This seminar is only open to students admitted to the FRI program. FRI students are required to take this seminar, both lecture and their assigned discussion section. Offered in first-year fall semester. After successful completion of the third semesters students will also receive composition credit.