Guidelines for Students
The Description and Explanation of the Research Process carries the most weight in the judging for the EKU Libraries Research Award for Undergraduates, followed by the Bibliography. The points below are designed to guide you in focusing on the most important elements in the Description and Explanation of the Research Process, and the Bibliography.
Score Card
Research Component |
Point Value |
Description & Explanation of the Research Process |
20 |
Bibliography |
10 |
Completed Project |
15 |
Supporting Letter |
5 |
Total Possible: |
50 |
Description & Explanation of the Research Process
The 800-1000 word Description and Explanation of the Research Process is the most important piece of your submission and carries more points than any other application component, including the project itself.
The Description and Explanation of the Research Process is your opportunity to reflect on the research process, to communicate the specifics of that process, and to give a sense of how your ideas and methodology changed as your research progressed. The review panel is interested in your ability to perform undergraduate-level research, and expects the Description and Explanation of the Research Process to fully describe and explain the process and methods by which you searched for, selected, acquired, and evaluated the information that went into the development of your project. An accomplished researcher relies not only on comprehensive searches and methods, but allows the initial and intermediate results of those searches and methods to shape the final product. As such, the review panel is interested also in the growth both of your project and of your skills as a researcher. As you develop the description and explanation of your research process, consider the following questions and suggestions (you do not need to systematically answer each question, but rather use them as a guide):
Developing research strategies:
Describe, in detail, your search strategies--both the successes and the problematic searches:
Evaluating search tools & information:
What specifically did you discover about tools and techniques for research? Tell us specifically which research tools and strategies you used (research databases, library catalogs, websites, bibliographies, etc.), but in an evaluative way -- not just a list of things you tried.
Prize-winning examples may be found at https://encompass.eku.edu/ugra/ along with their Description and Explanation of the Research Process essays.
Bibliography
When preparing your bibliography keep in mind these points:
Supporting Letter
Final Version of Completed Project
Projects in all media are encouraged!
Please Note!
If winning students are employees of the university the awards will be given through payroll. This also means fringe benefits will be taken from the award.
EKULRAUguidelinesForStudents2020 ver.: 08/18/2023
EO/AA Statement | Privacy Statement | 103 Libraries Complex Crabbe Library Richmond, KY 40475 | (859) 622-1790
©