Importance

1 Research allows you to gain appreciation for the practical applications of knowledge, and to step outside your Room and learn about the theories, tools, resources, and ethical issues that scholars and professionals encounter on a daily basis.

2 You learn how to formulate questions, design plans to find answers, collect and analyze data, draw conclusions from that data, and share your findings with a community.

3 Doing research will also make you an informed consumer of the research that you encounter on a daily basis: you'll be able to evaluate the information presented to you as a citizen of our complex society, and make informed decisions about all kinds of public policy issues that affect your everyday life.

4 Research prepares you for the world beyond Rutgers by honing your independent thinking and creativity, time-management and budget skills, and confidence in your academic and career goals.

5 Allows you to pursue your interests, to learn something new, to hone your problem-solving skills and to challenge yourself in new ways.