How to Complete Undergraduate Research

When I transferred to UCLA I knew research was something I wanted to do but was so lost on where to start or exactly what type of project I wanted to complete. I'm now completing independent research on the Egyptian harem of Ramesses III and was nominated to present my research at UCLA Undergraduate research week. I know how overwhelming it can be, so I decided to compile a short list of my tips on the process. 

Options

Know there are various options of types of research you can complete as an undergrad. At UCLA in the Humanities, you can complete an honors thesis or independent research. An honors thesis usually lasts a whole academic year, whereas independent research can be one quarter or more depending on what you and your advisor decide. 

Where to Start?

Library Resources - See if your school has workshops on how to start research. UCLA is a research university so there are tons of workshops here a quarter. I highly encourage you to utilize as many of the library resources as possible. 

Finding an Advisor - Think of a professor you had who you had a good relationship with or who is in the field you want to study. If there was a certain course where you had a research topic that inspired you to do more research, try reaching out to that professor to see if they would be willing to advise you. I know it can be intimidating but know advising undergrads is part of professors jobs so don't feel like you can't ask. 

Things to Know

1. Advisors will have various levels of hands-on involvement with your research. Some may be very hands-off requiring you to set some of your own deadlines and be very self-motivated. 

2. When setting your own deadlines, break your project into small chunks. This may sound obvious, but if you have a tendency to procrastinate, setting small goals will help you from being too overwhelmed when your deadline is rapidly approaching. 

3. Outside of your advisor, don't be afraid to reach out to other faculty, graduate students, librarians or anyone else who could be helpful in finding sources. For example, I was trying to find a very specific headdress, so I asked one of the grad students who happen to specialize in the time period I was looking at. You never know who may be of help finding sources! 

4. Similar to starting your research, utilize your library as much as possible during the process. If you're not very familiar with your library resources and databases, schedule an appointment with a research librarian to learn about how to get the most out of your library. 

5. Lastly, be kind to yourself! Research is hard and can take so much out of you. Try to enjoy the process as much as possible and be proud of taking the initiative to take on such a process. 

Hope this helps just a little bit! 

XO,

Chloe