By Megan Novak Wood, Associate Director of Undergraduate Research, Northwestern University
One of the biggest challenges in recruiting student participants in the arts and humanities is helping them explore their interests and making sure they know what research looks like in their fields of study. Additionally, there may be fewer opportunities for students to assist on faculty projects given the individualistic nature of many methodologies. Finally, faculty in creative fields may not see their work as research. Combined, these barriers to entry make it harder for students in the arts and humanities to get started.
ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
One strategy is to introduce research in the context of answering questions, although the output itself may vary. While a student in theatre may ultimately be interested producing a play, the dramaturgy involved in the process requires answering a number of questions. Encourage students to think about what is unknown about particular topics. What do we not know that we need to know? If the student is in the creative arts, why do they need to make a particular piece? How does it add to the conversation in the field?
How students figure out appropriate questions to answer really depends on how the field asks questions. Good first steps to take are reading scholarship, talking to field experts, and gaining a sense of methods used in a particular discipline.
WADING INTO THE CONVERSATION
Reading scholarship varies widely within fields because the format and structure vary. While a history student may read a book chapter, a journalism student may read mainstream articles, and a theatre student may read plays and critiques. It is important to emphasize that students should read content that is relevant to their field of study! The goal should be to understand the current conversations in their field around a particular topic. Ultimately the student can work to position their research question within this broader conversation.
TALKING TO EXPERTS
When talking to field experts, encourage students to take advantage of office hours. It is useful for students to know how the faculty expertise is relevant to the project they have in mind. The student can frame the conversation in terms of their particular interests and learn how the faculty might be able to provide guidance on a topic, methodology, or process. It is always a good idea for students to also ask what else they should be reading and who else they should be talking to.
RESEARCH RESOURCES
The easiest first step may simply be encouraging the students to learn about what research commonly looks like in a particular discipline. This is not intuitive in many arts and humanities fields. As a result, Northwestern University created a series of short video interviews with faculty. The videos discuss what research looks like across a range of fields (with particular focus on arts and humanities fields). They also explore how an undergraduate could get started.
These Research In… Videos include the following topics:
American Studies, Anthropology, Archaeology and Art History, Documentary Film, Civic Engagement, History, Global Health, Language and Cultural Studies, Literary Criticism, Performance Studies, Political Science, Religious Studies, Social Policy, Theatre and Contemporary Performance, Theatre History and Dramaturgy.
