Teaching Research Methods through a Community-Based Research Project: Connecting Theory and Practice to Make it “Real” for Students

This paper describes the experience of teaching an undergraduate research methods course through a qualitative community-based research project and the impact of that approach on student learning. Course composition and design are outlined, followed by the community-based research project's impetus, focal research questions, and implementation protocol. Evidence of the impact on learning for the fifteen students in the course is drawn from three sources: reflection papers, student comments on formal course evaluations, and pre and post-test (survey) self-assessments of student knowledge. Collectively, the data suggest student learning was supported in several ways: by enhancing their ability to connect theory with practice, increasing appreciation of the scope and rigor of social science research procedures, viewing research as a vehicle to develop empathy, and recognizing the utility of research skills to job-readiness. Challenges and critiques related to implementing this type of project are also discussed.