RESEARCH METHODS:
ALL FOR ONE, AND ONE FOR ALL:
PUTTING THE PIECES AND PEOPLE TOGETHER
Stephanie Taylor, Ph.D: Biochemistry
Homer Montgomery, Ph.D: Paleontology
Joshua Sisk, TA: Chemistry
Georgia Stuart, TA: Mathematics
Dennis Teubner, TA: Biology
Emily Wagoner, TA: Biology
UTD: A Unique Student Population
2013 Freshman Class:
 Average SAT 1261
 2,231 freshmen, 21,145 student body
 88 new National Merit Scholars
 63% of freshmen are in STEM majors
Research Methods
 Inquiry I
 Science Fair – ish. Get your feet wet!
 Let’s ask questions!
 Inquiry II
 Done with equipment found in a High School (TI Inspire, Vernier
Probes, etc.)
 Usually quantitative
 Inquiry III
 Human Subjects
 IRB
 Inquiry IV: Discipline Specific
 Undergraduate Research Project
How we do it…
 Round Table Science/Math
Team Discussions
 Involves TAs, faculty, and
phone ins to experts
 Pecha Kucha presentations:
http://www.pechakucha.org/
 BAH Fest (Festival of Bad Ad
Hoc Hypotheses)
 https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=Zm-sQnazFAQ
 Tomer Ullman: The Crying
Game
 Zombie Dice & Statistics
 Journals/Homework
 Integrating Portfolio Piece:
Subject Matter Knowledge
 21st Century Skills:
Communication!
 Discussion Boards: Feedback on
the Feedback
From the Students
 Make use of the availability of the
instructors; they are sometimes much
more helpful than you'd think. And they
can be flexible with deadlines and
expectations if needed. It would have
been impossible to get through this
course if I hadn't asked questions and
sought their almost-constant assistance.
Contact Information
 Stephanie M. Taylor
 StephanieM.Taylor@utdallas.edu
 Joshua Sisk
 Joshua.sisk@utdallas.edu
 Emily Wagoner
 emw090020@utdallas.edu