News Archives - 2011
Scholars at the Capitol share questions and answers with the community
Michael Wilson started his research project because he wanted to know about some yarn. And in order to do her research, Jessica Pfaffendorf had to actually become a member of the Facebook community. What compelled each of these students was a curiosity and a desire to find answers to their questions – and that is one of the aspects of undergraduate research that is so rewarding.
This week, Wilson [pictured] and Pfaffendorf joined 37 students from Minnesota's private colleges for the Private College Scholars at the Capitol day. Student researchers and their mentors displayed posters and talked with legislators and others in the Capitol Rotunda.
Wilson, a McNair scholar and Weekend College student majoring in history and American Indian Studies, became interested in exploring intertribal influences on the Omaha Grass Dance because he is a grass dancer. "There is yarn fringe on the costumes, and I wanted to know the origin of it," he says. By anthropological, historical, and photographic data, Wilson determined how intertribal migration and communication affected the Grass Dance and other social and ceremonial aspects of the culture.
Pfaffendorf, a senior McNair scholar majoring in sociology, focused her study on the link between Facebook, the popular social networking site, and the strength of social bonds. She interviewed individual students and conducted focus groups and developed a typology to classify different types of users.
As part of her research process, Pfaffendorf actually had to become a member of the Facebook community, something she had resisted. "I discovered it's not the best for maintaining social bonds, but it is good for learning about events," she says.
Pfaffendorf has been accepted into three doctoral programs and wants to focus her graduate study on social bonds or the sociology of disaster. Wilson is not sure what will happen for him after he completes his undergraduate studies, but he says grad school is a possibility.
As the Private Scholars at the Capitol program brochure states, research is important for undergraduate study but also "contributes to the health of our communities, the economy of Minnesota and the wealth of knowledge in the world." Research gives students an entry into academic and professional fields and prepares them for future careers or graduate school.
The Augsburg community can learn about the work of other undergraduate researchers at the 2011 Zyzzogeton poster session on Wednesday, April 13, 3-5 p.m. in the Oren Gateway Center lobby. Students interested in presenting their research should register by Friday, Mar. 11 on the Zyzzogeton website.
