What are internships and what is research?

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I'm fixing to start my Bachelor in Criminal Justice and have read at my University there are "internships" and chances to do "research" but what do these things usually entail?

Throughout my AA I've done research papers and LOVED THEM! (If they were on a topic I enjoyed) and even if they weren't I feel I walked away learning something new about the chosen topic. I've been BUMMED OUT for a class NOT having a research paper LOL! (Crazy I know!)

I mention an idea for research and a professor I talked to was like WOW! You should get into RESEARCH NOW!

I "might" sign up for an internship for next summer if at all possible and be able to do "some research" but I'm scared because I don't fully understand what internships are and what it means by "research" I assume beyond some dull 8-10 page paper on X topic right? I have no idea honestly.

Thanks WP!

Internships are real world experiences. I have a B.A. in Sociology/Criminal Justice. I did an internship working with a public transit agency studying security and law enforcement. I got to take tours of facilities, meet and interact with police offers, things like that.

My friend is an audiology major, she worked in a doctor's office. Another sociology major I know interned at a home for troubled youth.

Internships are great because employers want to see real world experience. If you have the chance to take an internship, I strongly recommend it. Internships range from hands off observation and doing coffee runs to being a full member of the team (to the extent possible, you can't really carry a gun and such if your interning with the police.)

Research could mean two things

1.) Writing research papers based on others work

2.) Doing an actual study where you go out and collect data and do a paper based on your original work.

Doing a paper with original research is good too.

I personally think that internships are better than research if your looking for a real world job. Research would be good if you wanted to make a career doing social research.

My advice would be to do research with someone else too- even if you have great ideas, if you're not used to research, it's very easy to get lost or sidetracked down irrelevant paths the first time (speaking from experience!). If you can tag along on someone else's project to begin with, I'd advise that, even if all you are doing is entering statistics; it allows you to see how it all plans out.

thanks that stuff sounds awesome can't wait to do it!! !!

An internship is like an entry-level job that you don't get paid for. Imagine having all the responsibilities of a real job, but having to do it for free.

Internship is a fancy new word for what used to be called indentured servitude. Except indentured servants got free food and lodging, and interns don't.

Not sure if your referring the stereotypical internship or just saying they don't get paid.

The internship I did, I was every bit a part of the team and some internships do pay.

It depends on the field, in mine larger companies do pay interns and treat them pretty well [often at the expense of the regular employees...]