The undergraduate project is often the first major piece of independent research that a student will undertake. We are today in knowledge driven world where knowledge assets rather than physical assets and natural assets are considered more relevant in creating competitive and differential advantages.
Therefore, project work at the undergraduate level is an undertaking usually at the last lap of a journey of four or five years programme depending on the choice of course or academic pursuit/career. It is therefore a point where and when a student leaves a statement as a foot print on the part that he/she traversed over a period of time. The statement or the content of the project may be a building block for the future students or humanity at large.
Variables are features possessed by the members of a population. It is something that varies or changes in value according to situations or how treated. A variable is something that is capable of taking different values and the value of any particular variable depends on the condition under which it is undertaken.
In other words, Research help prepare students for lifelong learning which they will need in a future filled with rapid change. The Internet is increasingly used as a source of information and students need to be able to search for and assess the quality of the information they find. Everybody make decisions, and decisions are founded on information and insight. Good decisions are based on good information while bad decisions are based on poor, false or inaccurate information. Furthermore, students may learn to handle failure as a possible outcome. It is also claimed that it is stimulating for students to work with new, novel, knowledge, and that research can stimulate students’ enthusiasm for a subject. Undergraduate research can help reach pedagogical goals such as communication, problem solving, teamwork, informed learning and responsible learning.
CHOOSING A GOOD PROJECT TOPIC
Selecting the right topic is the first step in the research journey undergraduate research project or any other research project. A good research idea may arise from certain conditions or situations in the world. The present situation due to COVID-19 has created opportunities for research in microbiological, immunological, pathological, clinical, preventive and socio-economic aspects of the pandemic.
Undergraduate students must understand certain things while choosing a project topic. Don’t just assume you already have a project topic in mind you want to research on and so you wouldn’t need to make necessary enquiries. In as much in choosing a project topic, it is advisable you choose an undergraduate project topic that you are familiar with and find quite interesting, it is more important that you make sure that there are materials available for your choice of project topic.
Another point to note while choosing a project topic is case study. Ensure your case study is close. Avoid choosing case study that is very far from you or places that cannot be easily accessible thereby making you spend more than necessary. It is therefore, advisable that you choose project topics that are researchable and have materials available as well. Make all the necessary enquiries about your choice of project topic before submitting it to your supervisor for approval.
VARIABLES IN A PROJECT TOPIC
Variables are features possessed by the members of a population. It is something that varies or changes in value according to situations or how treated. A variable is something that is capable of taking different values and the value of any particular variable depends on the condition under which it is undertaken.
As an undergraduate student writing project, it is important you understand the variables in your research topic and try as much as possible to link the variables in your project topic. You already know that your project topic must have in it two or more variables and these variables must be treated independently in your research project. Therefore, in writing your aim and objectives, you must not forget to link these variables in your project work. Your aim and objectives must be linked. For example one of your objectives can be “the effect of social media on the performance of undergraduate students in Kwara state”. You can see how variables were linked in this example given. Therefore, you must take into cognizance the variables in your project topic while writing your aim and objectives in your undergraduate project.
WHY STUDENTS PREFER TOPICS WITH TWO VARIABLES
The process of, undertaking a research entails the consideration of measurable factors that are subject to change due to circumstances. These factors are called variables. The idea of variable is central to research because the title of a research is made up of it and it is also the focus of most study. Research often concerns relationships between variables. Researches are concerned with establishing interrelationships among variables and every aspect of research needs fundamental characteristics and ingredient, and these are called variables. A variable is not only something to be measured, it is what a researcher can also manipulate and control for as obtainable in experimental research.
Students prefer topics with two variables because having two variables in a research topic, makes it easier to research on as well as saves time. Also the relationship between two variables is easily ascertained than projects with more than two variables. It also reduces the stress of having to search for research materials for other variables in a project topic.
CONCLUSION
Variables are basic ingredients of every research and the new entrant to the field should study this aspect of research very critically because failure to have well defined variables at the beginning of the studies will definitely lead to blind alley along the line. Also to further achieve the fundamental purpose of research by making enquiry into the unknown with a view of finding solution to the problem, effective communication of research report must be done by researcher.