Hi,
I'm an undergrad and I'm interested doing some kind of research or writing a review paper on previous reseach. First of all, is this allowed? Secondly, do I have to get some kind of permission or form signed to do this kind of work? Finally, is there anywhere I can publish my review/research if I were to finish it?
Thanks a lot!

I'm not quite sure. I do know most Honours programs have students writing their own theses, so that's one option. Otherwise, I don't see why it WOULDN'T be allowed, but you'd have to probably work with some professor, and they'd have to take you on for you to be able to do anything....which makes the thesis bit more relevant.

Originally Posted by Zebedee

I'm an undergrad and I'm interested doing some kind of research or writing a review paper on previous reseach. First of all, is this allowed?

Well, depends on what resources you need access to. They can't really "stop" you from doing research, you can set up a chemistry lab in your basement and conduct research if that's what you fancy. Now, if you want access to labs in McMaster, you'd definitely need to talk to a prof or lab tech..

Keep in mind that most research is conducted through a graduate degree simply because it is a very long process.

Originally Posted by Zebedee

Finally, is there anywhere I can publish my review/research if I were to finish it?

If you were to finish it, you could submit it to a peer-reviewed journal, just as a prof / grad student would, and hope they accept it based on the novelty and relevance of your work.

Now, if you want to do research specifically for the experience (and not because you have a novel idea that you want to research further) you can always apply to be a Research Assistant over the summer (and potentially during the school year?). It is typically a paid position, and you assist a prof or grad student in their research.

Best of luck!

This is definitely allowed, and even encouraged by many professors. Get your ideas together and go talk to a prof. Many of them are more than happy to supervise you. They won't mark your paper or write it for you, but they'll help you along, give you contacts to talk to if needed, let you know where to look for certain articles.

You might even be able to submit it to an undergraduate journal (this is something you need to talk to with the professor about, because their name will probably be attached to your paper, as a "supervisor").

Keep in mind that the prof won't be able to offer you any money or resources. If you're in biology for example, you won't be able to set up experiments and things like that. But if you're in Political Science or Philosophy, then you'll definitely be able to do the research.

Good luck!

I'm in Health Sci, and my research would probably be along the lines of looking for correlations, so like surveys and interviews.

Originally Posted by Zebedee

I'm in Health Sci, and my research would probably be along the lines of looking for correlations, so like surveys and interviews.

Maybe try talking to Mark Oremus? He's a prof for epidemiology, a course you'll be taking in 2nd year

This is the only Undergrad Publication I know of at Mac, but It's geared towards research done for a thesis/project

http://meducator.org/

Originally Posted by Kathy2

Keep in mind that the prof won't be able to offer you any money or resources. If you're in biology for example, you won't be able to set up experiments and things like that. But if you're in Political Science or Philosophy, then you'll definitely be able to do the research.

Good luck!

No, if you're in bio and working in a lab doing research, anything you do is funded by the prof that you work for, and you are generally responsible for carrying out your own experiments. You also have access to all the resources the lab you're working in has access to.

Originally Posted by Zebedee

I'm in Health Sci, and my research would probably be along the lines of looking for correlations, so like surveys and interviews.

It doesn't just have to be surveys and interviews. Health scis can work in science labs, too--it depends what you're interested in.