If you are a student, chances are you've already begun learning about the research process and methods of your discipline. The skills and knowledge you develop through your coursework provide you with the tools to begin exploring your own questions, which is what mentored research and creative works are all about.
The spectrum of research
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Considering that mentored research builds on a foundation of skills and knowledge learned through other activities, it can be useful to think about undergraduate research as a spectrum of activities and learning outcomes.
Framework for undergraduate research at the University of Alberta, adapted from the Committee on the Learning Environment (CLE) sub-committee report: Teaching, Research and Discovery Learning: Recommendations for a Great University., January 2010.