Pura Vida: Using Study Abroad to Engage Undergraduate Students in Comparative Politics Research

Political science undergraduate students often have a difficult time understanding the processes and methods of social science research. The foci of courses in comparative politics such as Latin American Politics or European Politics are typically descriptive information, concepts and theories, and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PS, political science & politics political science & politics, 2005-01, Vol.38 (1), p.77-81
Main Authors: Bowman, Kirk S., Jennings, Ashley
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biology
College students
Colleges & universities
Comparative Politics
Costa Rica
Developing countries
Educational Programs
Environmental conservation
Environmental education
Environmental protection
Experiential Learning
Field research
Fieldwork
International Education
International students
LDCs
Political science
Political Science Education
Politics
Social research
Social sciences
Student surveys
Study abroad
Teaching Methods
The Teacher
Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate Study
United States of America
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Summary:Political science undergraduate students often have a difficult time understanding the processes and methods of social science research. The foci of courses in comparative politics such as Latin American Politics or European Politics are typically descriptive information, concepts and theories, and an overview of the principal debates and research findings. This stands in sharp contrast to undergraduate pedagogy in the natural sciences, where laboratory sections supplement classroom activities. For example, biology students learn the basics of the discipline in the classroom, and simultaneously use the tools and methods of scientists in the lab to replicate elementary experiments. This multi-method approach not only reinforces the students' understanding of biological concepts, but also gives them an appreciation for how their professors spend their time and the challenges, pleasures, and limitations of academic research.
ISSN:1049-0965
1537-5935
DOI:10.1017/S1049096505055824