2008 Woodie Awards
Saving their best for last
Seniors in honors program spend more than 100 hours researching to graduate
By: Sarah Schuch
Issue date: 1/16/08 Section: News
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Cheevers, a Grand Rapids senior, researched the stroop effect, which tests the reaction time of reading color words that are written in color, whether it be the same color or a different one.
He tested 100 participants. Throughout his research, he met with an adviser once a week.
"Having the research experience is invaluable," Cheevers said.
Each student in CMU's Honors Program spends more than one hundred hours hoping to end their college careers with the best foot forward.
Those students are required to complete a senior research project before they graduate. It should be the student's best work yet at Central Michigan University, said Judy Idema, associate director of the honors program.
At least 100 hours is spent researching a topic within the students' majors, Idema said."The projects are really impressive," Idema said. "They are compared to graduate research." Topics such as the government controlling the Internet, Parkinson's disease and "communicating cheeseburgers" have been done in the past, Idema said.
The students have a faculty adviser to help guide them through the process. The faculty member can help students develop the topic, Idema said.
Midland senior Jacob Frankovich said faculty advisers are useful because of their experience and suggestions with finding information.
"The project is almost more about the research process than it is the finished project," he said.
Frankovich said his proposed topic came to him through a lot of brainstorming. His topic is on universities being prepared for problems, specifically health crises.
The experience gives Honors students an edge in the job market, as well as getting into graduate school with financial assistance, Idema said.
The projects are to be done at the highest professional level, she said, and should be ready for submission to a scholarly journal or presentation at a conference.
All students are required to present their research at the Students Research Creative Endeavors Exhibition.
Students say the project is worth the time commitment.
"(The project) is going to help me in graduate school and in the rest of my life," said Hesperia senior Wes Miller.
Miller recommends students find a professor they are comfortable with. If professors share their interests, they will be eager to discuss ideas, he said.
Frankovich said time management is important - students should be thinking about the project a semester early and have a plan. They should write the paper in pieces as the semester goes on, he said.
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