Students at the Missouri School of Journalism have access to two distinct types of undergraduate research — journalistic research and academic or scholarly research — giving them hands-on experience that sets them apart after graduation.

Journalistic Research

Journalistic research is built around the foundational questions of Who, What, Where, When, Why and How. Students gather and share information through interviews with experts and community members, collecting facts and data, providing background and context, and telling real stories — all in service of the public or a specific audience.

Academic or Scholarly Research

Academic research also explores who, what, where, when, why and how, but is typically divided into quantitative (how much/how many) and qualitative (why) questions. Students share findings with academic audiences through conferences and journals, and increasingly through “broader impact” research that addresses real societal needs.

Research Methods Students Use

Undergraduate students gain experience with a range of research methods, including:

• Survey research
• In-depth interviews with reporters, editors and news consumers
• Gathering data from primary and secondary sources — government databases, historical artifacts, photographs, video and broadcast texts
• Examining the ethical, legal and historical impact of journalism and public relations

How Students Build Research Skills

All students are introduced to both journalistic and academic research methods through required coursework in their first and second years. From there, they progress from entry-level to more complex research, ultimately designing original research for advanced client presentations in MOJO Ad and AdZou, or for investigative reporting and documentary film projects — work that has taken Mizzou students to national conferences, produced award-winning documentaries, and launched investigative projects with real-world impact.

See what Mizzou journalism undergraduates are doing — from research presentations to real-world projects. 

Interested in faculty research?

Explore faculty research opportunities through Mizzou’s recruiting database ForagerOne. ForagerOne allows you to create a profile and connect with faculty who are actively recruiting students for research at Mizzou.