Hurry Up and Get Ahead on Your Senior Project!
In the world of academia, the Senior Thesis is a significant milestone for many students. For one Princeton University student, this independent work took the form of a comparative study on the humaneness of the Norwegian prison system versus the American prison system.
The research process for the Senior Thesis typically begins in the summer, and this year was no exception. By November 7, seniors must submit a funding proposal for their research to the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) for winter break consideration.
To secure funding for a senior thesis involving travel and research with human subjects, there are several strategies to consider. First, identify funding sources that align with your research. These could be grants from federal, state, or local governments, non-profits, foundations, professional organizations, and your own institution. For example, the AERA Dissertation Grants provide funding for research-related expenses, which could apply to senior thesis work involving human subject research in education or social sciences.
Preparing a clear, detailed budget is also crucial. Anticipated costs such as travel, participant compensation, Institutional Review Board (IRB) fees, equipment, and data collection expenses should all be outlined. Some funders require justifications that show the necessity for travel and human subjects involvement.
Ensuring compliance and ethical approvals is another essential step. Many funders require IRB approval or proof of ethical oversight for projects involving human subjects before releasing funds. The student's research plans were approved by the IRB, an ethics board.
Leveraging institutional support can also increase your chances of securing funding. Working with your university’s research office or library guides can help you find internal funding and mentoring. Some universities have training programs and targeted grants for students conducting field or human subjects research.
When it comes to funding a Junior Paper (JP), the same principles apply. The student, for instance, traveled to Norway to collect observational data on the country's prison system. The trip was funded by the Woodrow Wilson School, and during the research, the student interviewed six incarcerated individuals and a guard.
However, the student's initial plans to study the border between Mexico and the United States were thwarted due to safety issues, with Princeton not funding thesis research trips to Mexico. Instead, the student found themselves inside Halden Prison, a men's maximum-security facility located in the south of Norway, gathering valuable data.
Finding a Thesis Adviser is another crucial aspect of the Senior Thesis process, but this article does not provide specific tips on that matter. Networking and seeking guidance from faculty mentors or advisory boards can be beneficial in this regard.
In summary, maximizing chances of funding involves thorough research of aligned funders, budgeting carefully for travel and human studies costs, securing necessary approvals, and utilizing institutional resources and discipline-specific grant programs like AERA’s dissertation grants. For the student in question, these strategies led to a successful and enlightening research trip, shedding light on the stark contrasts between prison systems in Norway and the United States.
- To secure funding for a Junior Paper (JP), strategies similar to those for the Senior Thesis can be employed, such as identifying funding sources that align with one's research, preparing a clear budget, and utilizing institutional resources.
- Funding proposals for research, including the Senior Thesis, must be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) by November 7 for winter break consideration, and these proposals should comprise a detailed budget and justifications for travel and human subjects involvement.
- Personal growth and learning opportunities can be maximized through education-and-self-development endeavors like the Senior Thesis or Junior Paper, as they involve research, independent work, and personal-growth experiences such as travel and interactions with research subjects.
