Applied Economics Teaching Resources

an AAEA Journal

Agricultural and Applied Economics Association

Teaching and Educational Methods

Integrating Mixed Methods and Service-Learning in Undergraduate Education in Applied Research Methods: A Course Preparing Students to Address Complex Social Issues

David Conner(a)
(a)University of Vermont

JEL Codes: JEL Codes: A22
Keywords: Mixed methods, service-learning, transdisciplinary, Vermont, wicked problems

First Published Online: August 12, 2024

View Full Article (PDF)

Abstract

This paper discusses the methods and outcomes of an undergraduate social science research methods class in the Department of Community Development and Applied Economics (CDAE) at the University of Vermont (UVM). The course is required for all (approximately) 500 majors in this department. The paper reviews literature on experiential, service-learning (S-L) education, co-creation of knowledge, and mixed-methods research, arguing that the approaches prepare students to address wicked (complex social) problems. It then outlines the methods of the class and how these approaches are incorporated into class via a class research project with a community partner (CP). It presents the class’s publications, awards, and impacts. The Conclusions section focuses on strengths and limitations.

Note: According to the policy defining activities, which constitute research at the University of Vermont/University of Vermont Health Network, this work met criteria for a project that does not require IRB review.

About the Author: David Conner is a Professor at the University of Vermont (Corresponding Author Email: david.conner@uvm.edu).

Copyright is governed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA

References

Babbie, E. 2010. The Practice of Social Research. United Kingdom: Cengage Learning.

Baker, D., C. Koliba, J. Kolodinsky, K. Liang, E. McMahon, T. Patterson, and Q. Wang. 2009. “Moving Toward a Transdisciplinary Approach in the Land Grant System: A Case Study.” NACTA Journal 53(2):34–42.

Batie, S.S. 2008. “Wicked Problems and Applied Economics.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 90(5):1176–1191.

Bigler, C., M. Amacker, C. Ingabire, and E. Birachi. 2019. “A View of the Transformation of Rwanda’s Highland Through the Lens of Gender: A Mixed-Method Study About Unequal Dependents on a Mountain System and Their Well-Being.” Journal of Rural Studies 69:145–155.

Celio, C., J. Durlak, and A. Dymnicki. 2011. “A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Service-Learning on Students.” Journal of Experiential Education 34(2):164–181. https://doi.org/10.1177/105382591103400205

Conner, D. , A. Falkner, N.  Lantieri, B.  McGavisk,and B. McShea.  2018. “Stakeholder Perceptions of Campus Sustainability Efforts: Lessons from Vermont.” Sustainability 10 (11): 3849. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10113849 https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/11/3849

Conner, D. 2020. “Exploring Resource Management for Sustainable Food Businesses: Three Vermont Case Studies.” Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development 9(3):99–107. https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2020.093.002

Conner, D. 2022. “Transdisciplinary Research for Wicked Problems: A Transaction Costs Approach.” Agriculture and Human Values 39(4):1169–1172. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-022-10368-5

Conner, D., F. Becot, J. Kolodinsky, S. Resnicow, and K. Finley Woodruff. 2014. “Fostering the Next Generation of Agri-food Entrepreneurs in Vermont: Implications for University Based Education.” NACTA Journal 58(3):221–229. https://doi.org/10.5367/ijei.2015.0192

Dekker, S., A. Kraneveld, J. van Dijk, A. Kalfagianni, A. Knulst, H. Lelieveldt, E. Moors, E. Müller, R. Pieters, C. Pieterse, et al. 2020. “Towards Healthy Planet Diets—A Transdisciplinary Approach to Food Sustainability Challenges.” Challenges 11(2):21. https://doi.org/10.3390/challe11020021

Eyler, J., and D. Giles. 1999. Where’s the Learning in Service-Learning? San Francisco CA: Jossey-Bass.Eyler, J., D. Giles, C. Stenson, and C. Gray. 2001. “At a Glance: What We Know About the Effects of Service-Learning on College Students, Faculty, Institutions and Communities, 1993–2000: Third Edition.” Higher Education 139. https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/slcehighered/139

Harker Steele, A., and J. Bergstrom. 2018. “Tackling Wicked Problems in Applied Economics:                An Application to the Bears Ears National Monument.” Paper presented at the 2018 Agricultural & Applied                 Economics Association Annual Meeting, Washington DC, August 5–7.

Jacoby, B. 1996. “Service-Learning in Today’s Higher Education.” In B. Jacoby and Associates, ed. Service-Learning in Higher Education: Concepts and Practices. San Francisco CA: Jossey-Bass, pp. 3–25.

Kłeczek, R., M. Hajdas, and S. Wrona. 2020. “Wicked Problems and Project-Based Learning: Value-in-Use Approach.” The                 International Journal of Management Education 18(1):100324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2019.100324

McCamp, C. 2020. “Coping With Climate Change: Examining Emotional Effects and Searching for Solutions.” Rubenstein School Leadership for Sustainability Project Publications 23. https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/rslspp/23

McGowan, M., and D. Branche. 2020. “Developing a Social Marketing Plan to Address Wicked Problems: A Tool for Transforming Learning.” The Journal of Health Administration Education 36(4):373–382.

Peterson, H. 2009. “Transformational Supply Chains and the ‘Wicked Problem’ of Sustainability: Aligning Knowledge, Innovating, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership.” Journal on Chain and Network Science 9(2):71–82. https://doi.org/10.3920/jcns2009.x178

Porter, J., D. Conner, J.  Kolodinsky, and A. Trubek. 2017. “Get Real: An Analysis of Student Preference for Real Food.” Agriculture and Human Values 34(4):921–932. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10460-017-9785-9

Robinson, K., D. Conner, D. Baker, A. Tuck, L. Abrams, A. McAneny, R. Frankenfield, and C. Warner. 2021. “College Student Demand for Humanely Raised Livestock Product: Evidence from Vermont.” Journal of Food Service Management and Education 15(2):24–31.

Strijker, D., G. Bosworth, and G. Bouter. 2020. “Research Methods in Rural Studies: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods.” Journal of Rural Studies 78:262–270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2020.06.007

Van Meter, K., E. Blair, A. Swift, C. Colvin, and C. Just. 2012. “An Introduction to Sustainability Service-Learning Course for the Creation of Sustainable Citizens to Engage Wicked Problems.” Journal of Service-Learning in Higher Education 1:30–49.

Articles in this issue

Textbook Review of: Equilibrium Displacement Models: Theory, Applications, and Policy Analysis. By Gary W. Brester, Joseph A. Atwood, and Michael A. Boland
George Davis, Andrew Keller, Henry Kinnucan, Mike McCullough, Hikaru Hanawa Peterson, et al.

Reflecting on Using Reflection Exercises to Improve Student Learning and Teaching Effectiveness
Jaclyn D. Kropp

Innovate to Lead: Curriculum Innovations to Meet Students’ Needs in Applied Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Programs
Rachna Tewari , Na Zuo, Maria Bampasidou, Anthony Delmond, Lijiao Hu, Tanner McCarty, et al.

Using NetLogo to Build an Agent-Based Model for Teaching Purposes at the Graduate Student Level
Bryan Collins and Chyi-Lyi (Kathleen) Liang

An Ignatian Pedagogical Approach to Fostering Conversations on BIPOC Farmland Ownership Through Film Screenings
Jacquelyn D. Wiersma-Mosley, Trey Malone, Logan G. Moss, and Wendell Scales Jr.

Expanding Undergraduate Research Experience: Opportunities, Challenges, and Lessons for the Future
April Athnos, Anna Josephson, Jeffrey D. Michler, and Lorin Rudin-Rush

Faculty Perspectives on Engaging Undergraduates in Agricultural and Applied Economics Research
John Lai, Jerrod Penn, and Misti Sharp

Integrating Agricultural Research into Undergraduate Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Courses
Risti Permani, Md Khairul Hidayatullah Basir, Kodrad Winarno, Bisakha Dewan, et.al

From Zero to Thesis in Two Years: A Curriculum Plan for Engaging Undergraduates in Honors Research
Caleb Stair, Xumin Zhang and Misti Sharp

Undergraduate Research Opportunities in an Applied Economics Program: Expanding Pathways for Economics Majors (and Beyond) at Land-Grant HBCUs
Huan Li, Lyubov Kurkalova, Scott Simkins and Shona Morgan

Undergraduate Research in the Andes: Overcoming Barriers to Developing-Country Farm-Household Focused Analysis
Jeffrey Alwang, Victor Barrera, Darrell Bosch, Susan Chen, Jorge A. Delgado, et al.

Undergraduate Applied Microeconomic Research with Demographic and Health Surveys
Seth R. Gitter, Chris M. Boyd, and Raissa Abbasi

Dare to Experiment: The Synergistic Relationship Between Undergraduate Research and Experimental Economics
Carl Nelson-Poteet , Lusi Xie, Kent D. Messer, and Leah H. Palm-Forster

Creating and Implementing Undergraduate Research Experiences: An Example for Analyzing the Size, Structure, and Performance of U.S. Food Manufacturing Industries
Yuliya V. Bolotova, Luke Juffer, Haylie Moore

Integrating Mixed Methods and Service-Learning in Undergraduate Education in Applied Research Methods: A Course Preparing Students to Address Complex Social Issues
David Conner

Engaging Students in Open Dialogue about Use of AI Tools in Economics Courses
Zoë Plakias