Helping Students Become Effective Social Scientists

For 15 years, the Summer Research College, administered through the Program in International Relations and the Department of Political Science, has supported hundreds of students to conduct social science research with over 50 faculty mentors. 

Hanna Tyson, a senior majoring in international relations, spent her summer at Stanford researching North African militant groups for the Mapping Militant Organizations project with Martha Crenshaw, Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and Professor (by courtesy) of Political Science. During the 10-week program, Tyson wrote in-depth, unbiased profiles of different militant groups, tracking their relationships, rivalries and alliances over time.

"These groups were particularly interesting to investigate. Though many of the militant groups use violent tactics, I found that some of them also provide vital social services for their communities, like road and hospital building, " Tyson explains. "Mapping Militants allowed me to see how truly complex these issues are in North Africa...This research will stick with me my whole life."

Tyson was particularly drawn to this project because it was also about creating a tool that can be used by others—including the U.S. government and the Washington Post. "I knew I had to do this project, because I'm really interested in intelligence work. To get to do this for 40 hours a week was a blessing; in class you can only devote so much time."

Expanding opportunities for undergraduates from any major to gain in-depth research knowledge is one of the main reasons Michael Tomz, Professor of Political Science and Director of the International Relations program, started the Summer Research College (SRC) in 2001. The program, he says, "helps students make the transition from being consumers of knowledge to becoming producers of knowledge."

This year’s topics ranged from understanding the psychology of Americans’ political decisions and party identification, to criminal violence in Latin America, and race and representation in the U.S.

The program has expanded over the years, adding workshops and seminars on a variety of research methods and tools, from causal inference and public opinion surveys to training on mapping and statistical software.

Students also have a chance to develop relationships with Stanford faculty, and hone their presentation skills by taking turns presenting their research.

In 2005, Tomz integrated the political science and international relations programs to provide an even larger research community and expose students to a wider variety of subjects. By providing a support network and opportunities to participate in research, the SRC also aims to increase the number of first-rate honors theses. 

"The SRC complemented my academic experience at Stanford through teaching valuable skills like how to research, present data, and how comfortable it made me with professors," says sophomore political science major Marjorie Schwab, who studied the dynamics of post WWII Germany this summer with Professor of History Norman Naimark. Schwab, who was drawn to this project because of her interest in Soviet dynamics and U.S. foreign policy, says she learned several research tips and tricks and became very familiar with the Hoover archives at Stanford and the digital archives of the U.S. government.

The best thing about the program, Schwab says "was learning how to conduct research on an interesting project where I felt like my voice mattered, since the research I did will be included in Professor Naimark's next book."

For more information about the Summer Research College, visit the website.

The Summer Research College is funded through the office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and administered through the Department of Political Science and the Program in International Relations, with help from the Stanford Global Studies Division.