Engaging Students in the Practice of Statistics Through Undergraduate Research

As statisticians, we engage in a variety of activities, some of which are regularly integrated into our undergraduate courses. However, the individual courses that comprise a mathematics or statistics degree program might not provide students with experiences in the broader range of activities that define the practice of statistics. To remedy this situation, faculty can consider developing and mentoring undergraduate research projects. This article briefly discusses the skills that comprise statistical practice along with some course and program options for helping students to develop these skills. Then, types of undergraduate research projects in statistics are described to help faculty generate ideas for projects they could mentor. Several examples of each type of undergraduate research project are provided.