A Beginner’s Guide to Undergraduate Research
What is Research?
Well, I’m so glad you asked! Simply put, research is the critical exploration of a certain topic, person, etc. with the goal of coming to a new conclusion and/or discovering new information.
If you may recall in your research methods class, there are two main types of research: qualitative and quantitative. Which type you choose depends on a variety factors including money, time, what existing research has/has not done, personal preference, and more!
I won’t bore you with more research methods content but, long story short, what your research is can be as vast as you want it to be. It’s all in your hands!
Why Should I Do Research?
Expand!
Research allows you to grow your knowledge in a subject that matters to you. You kind of become a mini expert in whatever topic you choose and if you ask me, that’s pretty cool!
Explore!
If you are anything like me, your classes may introduce a topic that piques your interest but that interest fades when you walk out of class or when you realize neither your professor, your peers, or Google has an answer. Research allows you to dig deeper into that interest in a way that you may not be able to in class due to whatever the course schedule is. Who cares if no one has the answer right now? Research allows you to be the one to unlock the answer!
Enrich!
So much of our world is informed by research. From the policies our politicians debate on to the food we eat, the findings given to us by researchers around the world help us advance society and make the world a better place. You too can be a part of this change and add something new to the world of academia!
When Should/Could I Do Research?
The Chair’s Corner
“Research could technically be done at any point of your academic career. As I reflect on my journey through undergraduate research, I would recommend seriously thinking about exploring research during or after your sophomore year. By this time, you have most likely taken some form of a statistics or research methods course and you are well into your four-year plan to determine when and where you could fit research in. Getting a research internship or looking into departmental/university honors programs would be a great way to kill one bird with two stones!”
For more information on how to obtain an internship, check out the December edition of the DSAC Digest for some tips! In addition, the Feller Center has great resources to consider too!
Cydney S.
CCJS ’25
Who Can Do Research and Who Can I Do Research With?
Anyone can do research and with anybody! While it may be tempting to do all the work yourself, having a network of people to lean on for research assistance is incredibly helpful. Part of research is realizing you don’t have all the answers all the time. However, with an arsenal of mentors and like-minded, supportive peers, you’ll work your way up to a well-crafted research proposal in no time!
UMD provides many opportunities for diverse student populations to explore the world of research in a way that is culturally competent such as the Gilman International Scholarship, Big Ten Academic Alliance Summer Research Program, and more. For additional information on these opportunities and more, click the button below!
Can I Do Research?
Of course you can! 🙂
Popular Research Opportunities
University Honors College
Summer Research Initiative
UMD Research Labs
UMD FIRE
The Chair’s Corner
“When I decided I was interested in research, I knew there was no way I wanted to do it alone. I decided to reach out to professors that had similar research interests to me directly for opportunities. For each professor, the CCJS Department website notes what their primary research topics is so, I was able to narrow down what professors I wanted to email asking if they had any projects I could help them with. I recommend asking your professors about their research and if it sounds interesting to you, ask if they would be interested in having you as a research assistant. This is a great way to score an internship and gain research experience!”
Cydney S.
CCJS ’25
Where Can I Do Research and Where Can I Present My Research?
Within the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences…
| Major Department | Honors Program Website Link |
| Anthropology (ANTH) | https://anth.umd.edu/graduate/honors-program |
| Criminology and Criminal Justice (CCJS) | https://ccjs.umd.edu/landingtopic/undergraduate-honors-program |
| Economics (ECON) | https://www.econ.umd.edu/undergraduate/departmental-honors-program |
| Environmental Science and Policy (ENSP) | https://ensp.umd.edu/research/honors-ensp/ |
| Government and Politics (GVPT) | https://gvpt.umd.edu/undergraduate/gvpt-honors-program |
| Hearing and Speech Sciences (HESP) | https://hesp.umd.edu/undergraduate/honors-hearing-and-speech-sciences-undergraduate-students |
| Neuroscience (NEUR) | https://neur.umd.edu/landingtopic/honors |
| Psychology (PSYC) | https://psyc.umd.edu/undergraduate/psyc-honors-program |
| Sociology (SOCY) | https://socy.umd.edu/undergraduate/honors-program |
Undergraduate Research Day (URD)
Undergraduate Research Day is a campus-wide showcase of all the amazing research UMD students are doing. All are not only invited to attend but to also participate and present their own research findings! For more information on URD, please click the button below!
When/Where Is URD?
Undergraduate Research Day 2025 will be held on Wednesday, April 25th, 2025 at 2:00 P.M. to 4 P.M. in the Grand Ballroom at the Adele H. Stamp Student Union.
When Should I Register for URD?
If you wish to present during Undergraduate Research Day, please register here by Friday, March 14th, 2025.
If you wish to attend Undergraduate Research Day, there is no registration required.
What If I Can’t Make URD?
The Office of Undergraduate Research also offers the Summer Undergraduate Research Conference (SURC) for students interested in showcasing their research. For more information on this event, please click here.
If Undergraduate Research Day seems a bit daunting to you, consider publishing your research in an academic journal! For more information on how to do so and explore other opportunities to share your hard work, please click here.
How Can I Do Research?
If you have decided research is right up your alley, you must now consider how you can effectively and efficiently conduct your research. Here are three tips to guide you through the preliminary planning of your research project.
Academic Planning
If you find yourself interested in working with a research lab on campus or a research internship, you should look over your four-year plan and determine when it may be the best time for you to insert research. When all else fails, schedule an appointment with a Feller Center advisor or your major department’s advising department to talk over more research opportunity options.
Funding
If you are interested in going the independent route, you should look into obtaining any scholarships or grants you or your research is eligible for.
For BSOS-related scholarship and grant information, please click the button below.
For campus-related scholarship and grant information, please click the buttons below.
Statistics
Using statistical software is a great tool for interpreting data. Some common statistical softwares used in the social sciences (that you may remember from your research methods class) include SPSS, Stata, and R.
For assistance on how to navigate these statistical softwares, consider reaching out to the Statistical Counseling Services team with UMD Libraries here. Please note they do not provide tutoring services; only utilize this resource for general help/questions!
What’s Up With DSAC?
The BSOS Dean’s Student Advisory Council always has some amazing events planned each month so, what’s happening this month? Take a peek below!
March
DSAC Applications
Application Open Until Monday, March 31st @ 11:59 P.M.
Are you interested in joining our amazing group of dedicated student advocates? Please consider applying for the 2025-2026 BSOS Dean’s Student Advisory Council!
For more info on how to join, please visit our Join page.
To apply, please click here.
Muffins and Coffee
Location: First Floor at Tydings Hall | Date: March 12th & March 26th | Time: 9:00 A.M. to 1 P.M.
Stop by the DSAC table near the seating area on the 1st floor for some free refreshments! 🙂
BSOS Dean's Student Advisory Council 