Student Involvement in Community-Based Research

Abstract

Student participation in community research has received little attention either in the community research literature or the service-learning literature. The Urban Research Group model of community research includes undergraduates in two types of research: that which is linked to classes and that not linked to classes. In the research linked to classes, students learn skills that are used to write the Senior Investigative Paper. In the research not linked to classes, students learn interviewing skills and more about the local community. The needs of community-based organizations and the service mission of the university determine the amount of student involvement.