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Information Studies Research Accelerator
From deepfakes to disinformation campaigns to social media activism, information studies researchers examine how we use information to shape our society. In our current time, it’s no longer just that “information is power” - the power lies in knowing what to do with it. By learning to conduct information-focused research, students will hone essential skills for discovery, innovation, communication, decision-making, and problem-solving in our information-driven world.
The Information Studies Research Accelerator is a living-learning community (LC) open to students from every college, program and major across Purdue’s campus. In the Research Accelerator, first-year students can conduct original research to inform solutions to information challenges we face as a society. Research Accelerator students benefit from hands-on learning, interactions with awarded scholars, and behind-the-scenes experiences with cutting-edge research. This LC is for students who want to make the most of their educational experience and make a lasting scholarly impact. Accelerate your learning, design and present research, and take your first giant leap at Purdue!
If you have additional questions, please contact Samantha LeGrand: legrands@purdue.edu
Eligibility
Residential Component
- Required. The location of learning community housing will be determined based on the incoming size and needs of the learning community.
- A signed housing contract is required to apply to this learning community. Once a housing contract is completed, you will indicate your learning community housing preference within the learning community application. Applications received by the priority deadline will be considered first.
- If you want to be placed with a preferred roommate and be admitted to a learning community with a required residential component, both you and your roommate must apply (and be accepted) to the same learning community. Students admitted to learning communities with a required residential component cannot be paired with students admitted to learning communities with an optional residential component.
- For specific question regarding learning communities, email learningcommunities@purdue.edu.
- Completing a housing contract is a separate process from applying to a learning community. If you have questions about housing, contact University Residences (https://www.housing.purdue.edu/) at housing@purdue.edu.
Duration
Associated Courses and Information
Fall: (required)
ILS 195a Information Innovators: Exploring Research in Information Studies (3 cr.)
This course is required for students in the Information Studies Research Accelerator LC. It provides an overview of information studies (IS) research topics, values, and methodologies. This includes how IS researchers approach topics such as AI ethics, misinformation in politics and healthcare, and social media culture. Students will explore a variety of research approaches and methods used by IS researchers, both qualitative and quantitative. In this course, students will develop the skills to ask research questions, select and apply appropriate methods, design research projects, and share with a community of fellow researchers. Students will develop critical, creative, and practical research thinking skills. Students can choose to conduct their proposed research in the spring semester and share their findings to make a lasting scholarly and societal impact!
Spring: (optional)
ILS 195b Information Innovators: Research Experience in Information Studies (3-cr.)
This course is a research experience for first-year students in the Information Studies Research Accelerators Learning Community. It is the second in a two-part series exploring research through the lens of the information studies field. Students will continue to work in teams formed in ILS 195, implementing the research protocol they designed in their project proposal the previous semester. Teams will conduct their information-focused research projects while developing key information studies research methods and skills for academic and professional settings. Research teams will experience the full research process—from data collection and analysis to presenting findings (the research question design and literature review will have been completed in ILS 195a). To culminate the project, teams will give a presentation communicating their research process and findings. Students will reflect collectively and individually on successes and challenges of conducting a collaborative information studies research project.
Note: Every fee eligible student involved with a learning community (LC) at Purdue will be assessed the $200 LC fee to their university account. These funds support activities and travel, signature LC events, housing assignments and/or course registration and instructor stipends.
Events and Activities Included:
Students are expected to attend out-of-class activities.
- Community meals with professors and researchers
- Student Researcher Roundtable panel and Q&A
- Exploring campus research activities, selected based on student interests
Information above is subject to change. If you are placed in the LC, the associated courses will be on your schedule prior to you registering for the rest of your courses.
