As an online bachelor’s student in psychology at Pennsylvania State University–World Campus, Lauren Padgett needed research experience to apply to graduate school. Though she wasn’t on an actual campus, Padgett still found opportunities to do just that.
She worked with Brian Redmond, a senior lecturer of psychology who is now the lead faculty member for organizational leadership at Penn State–World Campus, and other student researchers to explore the rise of higher education jobs in online and blended education. Together, they wrote an article that’s been submitted for publication. Throughout the process, they communicated via Google Hangout video sessions, as well as phone calls and emails.
The only challenge in doing research as an online student, Padgett says, was getting to know her peers on a personal level; otherwise, it was similar to what she would have expected in person.
Research opportunities are “great for skill building; they’re great for increased knowledge around a particular topic — hopefully a topic that the student is interested in. And it’s something they can carry forward if they choose to go on to graduate school. It’s great for a resume,” says Laura Sullivan, faculty chair of undergraduate psychology at the online, for-profit Capella University.
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“It went on my resume — my CV,” says Padgett. And she says that Redmond, who led the project, wrote her a recommendation letter.
“When I went to apply for graduate programs and they asked if I have research experience, I could say ‘yes.'” Padgett also had the opportunity to work with Redmond as a volunteer lab manager.
Despite having jobs and possibly family obligations outside of class, online undergrads — just like many on-campus students — might be interested in research opportunities, often in conjunction with faculty. Experts say some online bachelor’s programs, particularly those in the sciences, have virtual opportunities for students who want to pursue that path, possibly for credit.
Penn State’s Redmond has led some research projects with online bachelor’s students in the past few years and will continue to do so in the future, he says.
One of his students, for example, participated in a meta-analysis, a method for combining data from several studies, he says. While the student’s work didn’t get published, the student — who eventually went on to a doctoral program — gained experience collecting documents and looking for patterns in data. He also earned course credit, though Redmond says some online students participate voluntarily.
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Capella’s undergraduate psychology department also offers a few different research opportunities to online students, though not for credit, says Kathleen Hughes, a part-time faculty member.
In some cases, for example, students gain insight into the processes of collecting and analyzing data, and in others, through writing proposals, they also learn about the fundamentals of research. Another option gives students a chance to participate in faculty-led research projects.
“In all of these scenarios, there are virtual meetings” and phone calls, Hughes says. “But we also use Adobe Connect, where we’re in a conference room, basically, where we can share information — share a screen and look at things.”
While experts say these opportunities are more common in research- and data-driven fields like psychology, students in other disciplines might also have research options. For example, at UF Online, the University of Florida‘s undergraduate online school, telecommunication media and society majors are required to conduct research or complete a hands-on project under faculty supervision, says David Ostroff, chair of the department of telecommunication at UF’s journalism and communications school.
One student, he says, is examining how streaming services are changing the television landscape. Others are interested in social media’s evolving role in society and pursuing research projects related to this.
“It’s an opportunity to conduct research at a fairly high level,” Ostroff says.
Before applying to the online program — or shortly after starting their studies — experts say students should ask academic advisers or faculty involved in the student’s areas of interest about getting involved with that research.
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“You have to go and ask questions and seek people out in order to get the information you need,” says Padgett, the May 2015 Penn State–World Campus graduate. “Having that mindset from the get-go is critical.”
Students also shouldn’t hesitate to consider volunteering to do research if they can’t get course credit, Redmond says. Some programs have limited capacity for research assistants, for example, and students may need to check out opportunities at other schools.
At the same time, Redmond says there’s room for online bachelor’s programs in general to expand possibilities for student research. He’s says he’s working with the Penn State–World Campus faculty development office to create a training course to teach professors at the school about doing that.
Meanwhile, Hughes says that prospective online students should ask faculty about flexibility when it comes to research project deadlines and weekly time commitments.
“The best way that they are able to be successful is time management,” Hughes says.
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Consider Research Opportunities as an Online Bachelor’s Student originally appeared on usnews.com
