Research Opportunities
Some students conduct research as part of their experience with the NCNS program. The research may be required as part of their master's degree or as part of their professional program.
If you are interested in conducting a research project, you would work with a NCNS faculty member and a community professional to identify a topic. Often community professionals have questions they would like answered, but do not have the time to conduct a study. For example, students have done research projects on the prevalence of obesity in children seen at the clinic, the incidence of Type 2 diabetes in women who have had gestational diabetes, and the cost of providing a weight-loss program to adolescents and their families.
After you have identified a topic and your collaborators, you write a proposal as required by your discipline. The proposal identifies the purpose, reviews relevant literature, identifies the data you need and how you will collect it, and how you will analyze the data. Most students collect data by conducting chart reviews, administering questionnaires or conducting focus groups.
When you have completed the data analysis, you write a report that goes to your advisor and to the collaborating community professional. The community professional can use the findings to modify their treatment programs or apply for grants to address health issues in the community.