ice109 said:im pretty sure i want to do theory in grad school because i don't like experiment. so i don't really want to do undergrad research that involves turning knobs and righting down numbers. nor am i able to contribute to a theory group. what am i to do? would research in math be sufficient? do i really have to do undergrad research?
any kind of undergraduate research helps in the bigger picture. remember you won't be learning just what you are apparently doing (eg. learning how to turn the knots on the CRO or how to enter data in Excel), what is more valuable is to understand the process of research: the thinking through, the ability to tackle unexpected challenges, the skills in analysis, making rational decisions when you can't do everything and when things turn out to be non-ideal, how to communicate your results to others, how to work as in a small team etc.ice109 said:im pretty sure i want to do theory in grad school because i don't like experiment. so i don't really want to do undergrad research that involves turning knobs and righting down numbers. nor am i able to contribute to a theory group. what am i to do? would research in math be sufficient? do i really have to do undergrad research?
Theory in undergraduate research involves using existing knowledge and concepts to develop hypotheses and predictions about a certain topic or phenomenon. Experiment, on the other hand, involves conducting hands-on experiments to test those hypotheses and collect data.
This decision ultimately depends on your interests and career goals. If you are more interested in developing new ideas and theories, then pursuing theory in grad school may be the better option for you. If you prefer hands-on work and collecting data, then experiment may be a better fit.
Absolutely! In fact, many undergraduate research projects involve a combination of both theory and experiment. This allows for a more comprehensive understanding of a topic and can lead to more impactful results.
While there may be some general trends, it ultimately depends on the specific research being conducted. Some fields, such as physics and biology, may have a stronger emphasis on experiment, while fields like philosophy and sociology may have a stronger emphasis on theory. However, this can vary greatly within each discipline.
If you are unsure about pursuing theory or experiment in grad school, it is important to gain experience in both areas during your undergraduate research. This will allow you to better understand your interests and strengths, and make a more informed decision when it comes to pursuing graduate studies.