<p>I would like to do research in Human-Computer interaction, just not sure how I would go about it.</p>
<p>JB - You could do research over the summer. That way you have a lot more time to focus on your project and your not bogged down with schoolwork.</p>
<p>And for rooster - I had an interested, and a basic understanding of genetics. However, when you go about a research project, you have to really get a good background/foundation to start off from in order to narrow down your topic/and create a research question. By doing all this research, you gain an enormous amount of knowledge about the topic than you had previous, if if it's not formal "classroom" teaching. I learn more when I'm intrigued in the topic, especially when it's of my own devising, such as an independent research project.</p>
<p>do people usually know their topic first, or begin research into a field and then discover something they would like to explore?</p>
<p>IMO if you just delve into something that you have a strong interest in, it will be much easier for you to go through the long process of research.</p>
<p>What type of research could you do as a prospective economics major</p>
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How exactly do you do research with computer programming?
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<p>well, in my case my mentor wanted some theoretical predictions for an experiment he was running, so I just coded something to model a ton of selfish fruit flies mating with each other. computer programming is usually a means to an end, rather than an end in itself.</p>
<p>rooster - I went into genetics knowing that I was intriqued/interested in it already. And that's usually how I think it would go... you start off broadly in a topic of interest and THEN narrow it down.</p>
<p>The summer after my freshman year, i decided I would start doing research so I picked the field I wanted to study (stem cell research) and e-mailed about 20 professors at a large research university near where I live. I heard back from some of them and picked one lab and have been working in it ever since (junior now). But don't think of research as something that will be an easy resume pad. It takes a LOT of time commitment and a bit of really boring routine techniques that have to be learned( at least in my field).</p>
<p>Wnecked, I know what school you go to, haha. I know the kid who made that program.</p>
<p>Anyway to do this, contacting a mentor at a university really helps. It demonstrates interest, and then they WANT to help you come up with a good experiment. Hey, if you end up winning Intel, you can always say that your mentor was Professor blahblah, and he'll get loads of credit too.</p>
<p>
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How exactly do you do research with computer programming?
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</p>
<p>Computer science and engineering projects are different in that they define a goal/need instead of a hypothesis, and formulate design criteria rather than variables. Experimental trials and data analysis equate to prototypes (and the equivalent for software) and performance analysis with respect to design criteria. There should also be some way to numerically benchmark its performance, such as efficiency or speed. Conclusion would be whether or not the engineered product or software program met the design criteria.</p>
<p>where do u live vortex? </p>
<p>also for lssd: an economics project that i have seen involved changing the "standard of living" and raising minimum wage and analyzed what families needed to survive and how much money that would mean for a minimum wage person- the project involved state economy/local economy- stuff like that</p>
<p>i live in CT</p>
<p><em>look in awe</em></p>
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How exactly do you do research with computer programming? Do you just code something?
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<p>Research with Theoretical Computer Science is really similar to research in math, basically just proofs and stuff.</p>
<p>CS itself usually has to be combined with some other field (Computational Chem, AI, alife, etc). An good project that a previous Siemens winner suggested to me was cellular automaton. But I found something better, and did stuff involving artificial neural networks.</p>
<p>It all depends on what you're interested in. IMO, theoretical stuff is the hardest since you not only have to understand the field VERY well, but also be able to explain to some judges, who may not be in the field, what you're doing.</p>
<p>I really don't know how to start a research project to do during the summer, especially in rural TX, there is NO college nearby at all...</p>
<p>i bet you people just do research so you can fluff up your college applications. pathetic.</p>
<p>Uhm, I'll be honest, I didn't read much of this dicussion, but I'll give you my two cents anyway. </p>
<p>So I got the opportunity to perform a project by contacting a lab that specialized and was world-recognized in the area in which I wanted to research (in my case it was pretty specific). The lab was located near Cornell University's campus and I was told that many graduate research students also performed projects there - of course making me very happy haha. But basically, I just asked and they allowed me to work there. In my case, I came up with the experiment and they let me use their facilities and equiptment to preform it, also assisting me along the way. </p>
<p>I ended up entering my project into a national compition (no not isef, though I was going to, but I didn't feel like it was good enough at the time) and acknowledged them and stuff. </p>
<p>But either way, your experiment or not, top mentor or not, if you get a chance to work in a lab setting... DO IT! It was and still is one of the most valuable experiences of my life!</p>
<p>I live in CT too hehehe</p>
<p>Thats why its called college confidential. What wrong with enhancing your resume so that you can have a better future?</p>
<p>fallopiantubes - You cannot make sweeping generalizations at this discussion. I can't speak about everybody else, but for myself, it was never a matter of being able to list it on any resume. In fact, the only mention of science research on my resume is that I applied to Intel. </p>
<p>To me, it's about the experience itself and the passion I have towards science. Nothing more, nothing less.</p>