Undergraduates deserve methods too: Using a research laboratory model to engage students in cognitive anthropological research

Some in the public sphere question the value of an anthropology degree. This assessment is unfortunate, as an education in anthropology prepares students for a wide variety of careers. To communicate the relevancy of anthropology, the discipline needs to have a renewed focus on applied methods. No longer can research be primarily for PhD students. Undergraduates also need opportunities for developing tangible skills that will be attractive and useful to employers. This paper provides an example of the Collaborative Anthropological Research Laboratory (CARL) that addresses this need. Based at Utah State University, CARL engages undergraduates in experiential learning through research. In their cognitive anthropological study of campus gender roles, these students gain valuable experience in a suite of methodological approaches that are valued in the applied sector. We contend that CARL serves as an example of how to construct a research group that focuses on the educational needs of undergraduates.