Research Involvement

A key goal of the marketing Ph.D. program is to involve students in developing and conducting independent research early in the program. Students' participation in research will be encouraged in the following ways:

• Research Emphasis in Coursework
  All marketing doctoral seminars will foster independent student research activity emphasizing the development of original research proposals and/or the execution or research projects.
  
• Assigned work with Faculty Members
  All marketing doctoral students receiving financial aid will be assigned to work with faculty members engaged in conducting research. These assignments will be designed to familiarize the student with the different aspects of the research process.
  
• Marketing Colloquiums
  All marketing doctoral students are required to regularly attend and participate in the Marketing Colloquiums which will feature periodic research presentations by faculty, students and invited outside speakers.
  
• Summer Projects
  In keeping with the strong research thrust of the doctoral program, students are required to write a research proposal during the summer term between their first and second years in the program. Each student is expected to seek guidance from appropriate faculty members in conceptualizing and designing research project, although the paper is written independently by the student. This project is expected to give the student an early opportunity to acquire hands-on experience in the research process. The project should demonstrate the studentís ability to research the academic literature, define a research problem conceptually, confront that problem with appropriate research methods, and communicate one's thoughts in a clear and concise form. It is expected that the student will continue to develop his or her research ideas during their second year in the program, either revising the proposal or replacing it as faculty feedback and growing student knowledge indicate. In the following summer, between the second and third year in the program, it is expected that students will execute a faculty-approved research study.
  
  The planning and execution of this research project should be a valuable component of the student's involvement in the research process. Students are encourage to select a topic that permits an initial attempt at an important problem, enables them to acquire knowledge and develop research skills that complement those developed in the other program elements. Most importantly, the completion of this project should significantly enhance the student's ability to approach the doctoral dissertation research with the requisite skill level and confidence.
  

Additional Collaborative Research

In addition to their assistantship assignments, all Ph.D. students are encouraged to become involved in conducting research in collaboration with the faculty and with their peers in the doctoral program. While this is not a program requirement, such collegial interaction is likely to stimulate and foster the studentís interest and enthusiasm in the research process.

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