Tennessee Tech publishes a business journal that focuses on showcasing student research outside the classroom.
The Journal for Societal Impact allows students to take the experimental work and analysis they conduct in the classroom and publish papers explaining the work they have done. Chairwoman Chelsea Dowell said the journal publishes qualitative and quantitative research, experimental and theoretical studies.
“When most people think of research, they think of a traditional experiment, maybe in a biology lab or in a chemistry lab, they don’t necessarily think about all the research that goes into the business world.” Dowell said. “And research in each business discipline does look different.”
Dowell said her classes perform consulting work in the classroom, accessing company data and analyzing it. Dowell said students look for ways to improve businesses in specific ways. Dowell said publishing research is important, as people outside of the University will be able to benefit from the research students conduct.
Dowell said research methods differ, as all business research does not look the same.
Dowell said the journal allows students to show work they have done to future employers and graduate schools.
“We love that it is publicly available,” Dowell said. “We love that it can highlight what are students have done, not just on behalf of the college, but also for them and their future careers.”
Dowell said the peer review process performed by other students anonymously. Dowell said the journal has a student staff, with a student editor.
“It’s been great to see them get excited about research and to already have some training, some skill building that they’re doing,” Dowell said.
