Combining Project-Based Learning and Community-Based Research in a Research Methodology Course: The Lessons Learned

In this article, we present our findings regarding the course "Research Methodology," offered to 22 first-year undergraduate students studying Administration at the Federal University of So Paulo, Osasco, Brazil. The course, which combined community-based research and project-based learning, was developed during the second semester of 2016. The students worked in teams to do research on a particular aspect of an NGO that helped people in need. The NGO was selected from a list of organizations that agreed to work as community partners. The students did qualitative research, which they then wrote up as a standard research paper for publication in a journal. Our research objective was to study the advantages and disadvantages of combining community-based research and project-based learning in research methodology courses. We followed a mixed-method research approach, analyzing the students responses to a survey and focus group activities. Our main findings were as follows: 1) The students faced difficulties working in groups, scheduling meetings with the community partners, and creating the articles; 2) The project-based learning approach improved the students' learning; 3) Doing community-based research was rich and meaningful experience to the students; 4) The course was successful in developing the students research skills.