Honors 495 - Introduction to Research
HON 495 Introduction to Research (3) Library research skills; scholarship of research and creative work; methodological and ethical issues; development of individual proposal or prospectus for Senior Honors Project. Limited to candidates for the Honors degree. CR/NC only.
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Hon 495 Students and Instructors,
Spring 2006 |
The goal of Honors 495 is to prepare students to undertake the research or creative work that culminates in the Senior Honors Project. It is part seminar discussion of readings and part workshop in which you learn and practice techniques.
At the end of the semester students will have prepared a written research proposal which they will present at the Fall Forum or Spring Symposium, depending on the semester.
Seminars focus on research design and research methods, while workshops include techniques from brainstorming, to library and internet research, and laboratory and field research skills in preparation for research or creative work.
Students practice presenting proposals in class and develop successive drafts of their project proposal which includes a title, abstract, outline, bibliography, and a review of relevant scholarship.
Students will be assisted in identifying a mentor for their Senior Honors Project.
The course is credit/no-credit and carries with it
both an oral (O) and writing intensive (W) designation.
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As a Psychology Honors student, I was not required to take Hon 495 (Introduction to Research) since Psychology majors have our own research methods course. However, I decided to take Hon 495 because it (1) provided a systematic method of formulating a research hypothesis, (2) taught library research skills, (3) introduced poster and oral presentations, and (4) provided access to former and current honors students who could give support and guidance. I enjoyed and benefited from the camaraderie and fellowship with fellow Honors students who were just starting in research. Throughout the semester, I was able to observe the development of other Honors projects, and I obtained a broader perspective of academic research. Hon 495 is one of the best courses that I have taken in college, and I have no reservations about recommending it to other students. Eli Tsukayama, Honors Student |
Student Learning Outcomes
In HON 495, the student will:
- become familiar with published resources at Hamilton Library and on the internet, both in general, and within the student's particular discipline;
- elaborate their appreciation of the range of disciplines within a research university, and the similarities and differences in their approach to scholarship;
- elaborate their seminar skills;
- gain access to facilities and personnel at UHM within the student's discipline and be able to identify a mentor for their Senior Honors Project;
- be able to write and publicly defend a proposal or prospectus for research or creative work suitable for a Senior Honors Project.
Please note that an upper division research design or methods courses may substitute for HON 495 and senior thesis courses may substitute for part or all of the HON 496.
Please see Waiver Policy for HON 491 and HON 495
Resources for faculty:
Instructors of HON 495 or equivalent courses, should submit written evaluations of students which will be used as part of the assessment of the student for the Honors Degree. Forms for written evaluations are available here:
Written evaluation for HON 495
Written evaluation for PSY 439
Written evaluation for other equivalent courses
