Graduate Advising in Experimental Research Groups

Graduate Advising in Experimental Research Groups

by James N. Druckman, Northwestern University, Adam J. Howat, Northwestern University, and Kevin J. Mullinix, Appalachian State University

Survey and laboratory experiments are increasingly common in political science. Investment in experimental data collection comes with costs and benefits, particularly for graduate students and advisers. This article describes a set of institutionalized procedures we have adopted with the goal of capitalizing on the advantages that come with experimental research. This includes requiring planning documents, holding research-group meetings, and centralizing data collection. These procedures, which are a form of internal pre-registration and early peer review, were designed to enhance the quality of graduate advising and graduate student research. We conclude by discussing the limitations of our approach, ultimately highlighting the need for more disciplinary conversation about how to best structure research groups to produce quality research and advising.

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PS: Political Science & Politics / Volume 51 / Issue 3 / July 2018