REU Site: Civil Conflict Management and Peace Science

项目概述：北德克萨斯大学（UNT）政治科学系运营着这个独特的REU网站项目，为本科生（从全国各地招募，但特别强调德克萨斯州和俄克拉荷马州代表性不足的学生）提供参与冲突管理与和平研究的研究生水平研究的机会。这是一项由高级教师指导的暑期研究经验，将国内冲突管理培训与计算机模拟技能培训相结合。参与者使用计算机模拟软件发展理论命题（通过反事实研究的练习），然后进行经验检验。参与者收集和分析经验数据，并在公共论坛上报告他们的发现。活动包括关于计算机模拟、研究方法和研究生院申请程序的讲习班。还有一些活动旨在建立学生、教师和研究生导师之间的研究共同体意识。在这个阶段，这是一个为期一年的项目试点阶段。智力价值：该计划探讨国内冲突发生（或复发）的原因，并调查可能的制度配置和其他类型的行动，可能有助于改善国内冲突。特别是，该项目训练学生的反事实推理，这促进了创新思维和解决问题的能力。发展经验技能来检验从使用计算机模拟中得出的理论命题，也磨练了学生参与者的科学和分析技能。更广泛的影响：鉴于世界上国内冲突日益频繁，以及这些冲突给21世纪的美国带来的安全问题，发展应对这些挑战的人力资本对国家安全至关重要。特别是，在冲突管理方面的培训，包括历史上在高等教育中代表性不足的人群（但作为本科生人口的比例正在增长），是国家的当务之急。该计划通过为来自这些人群的学生提供参与高级实证研究的机会，解决了进一步发展冲突管理专业知识的需求，否则这些学生将没有这样的机会。北德克萨斯大学在制度和地理位置上都处于有利地位，可以提供这种访问。为此，REU网站已经获得了西班牙裔和美洲原住民服务机构以及德克萨斯州和俄克拉荷马州的传统黑人学院/大学（HBCU）的正式承诺，以帮助扩大该计划的申请人范围。然而，该项目也征求来自全国各地的申请，并创造了平衡的本科生参与者群体。

Project Summary: The Department of Political Science at the University of North Texas (UNT) runs this unique REU Site program to provide undergraduate students (recruited from across the country, but with special emphasis on underrepresented students in Texas and Oklahoma) the opportunity to engage in graduate-level research in conflict management and peace studies. This is a senior faculty mentored, in-residence, summer research experience that integrates training in civil conflict management with training in computer simulation skills. Participants use computer simulation software to develop theoretical propositions (via exercises in counter-factual research) that are later tested empirically. Participants collect and analyze empirical data and report their findings in a public forum. Activities include workshops on computer simulations, research methodology, and the graduate school application process. There are also activities designed to build a sense of research community among students, faculty and graduate student mentors. At this stage, this is a one-year Pilot phase of the project.Intellectual Merit: The program explores the causes of civil conflict occurrence (or recurrence) and investigates possible institutional configurations and other types of actions that may assist in ameliorating civil conflict. In particular, the project trains students in counter-factual reasoning, which promotes innovative thinking and problem solving skills. Developing empirical skills to test the theoretical propositions derived from the use of computer simulations also hones the scientific and analytical skills of the student participants.Broader Impacts: Given the growing frequency of civil conflicts in the world, and the security concerns these conflicts engender for the United States in the 21st century, the development of human capital that is equipped to deal with these challenges is critical for the national security of the country. In particular, training in conflict management that includes populations historically underrepresented in higher education (but which are growing as a proportion of the undergraduate student population) is a national imperative. This program addresses the need to develop further expertise in conflict management by providing opportunities to engage in advanced empirical research to students from such populations, students who would not otherwise have such opportunities. The University of North Texas is well positioned, both institutionally and geographically, to provide this access. To that end, this REU site has secured formal commitments from Hispanic and Native American Serving Institutions and from Historically Black Colleges/ Universities (HBCU) in Texas and Oklahoma to assist in broadening the pool of applicants to the program. However, the program solicits applications from across the country as well, and creates balanced cohorts of undergraduate participants.