Corporate-Sponsored Undergraduate Research as a Capstone Experience

Abstract

This article describes procedures used to establish, promote, and implement a culminating undergraduate research experience that included financial sponsorship by local businesses and government agencies. The sponsorship allowed small teams of seniors to apply their understanding of psychological theory and methods to problems of relevance outside of the academic community. Each team produced a report and gave formal presentations to the sponsor. The endeavor was evaluated highly by the students. Each sponsor agreed to cooperate in a second capstone project.