The Relationship between Undergraduate Research Participation and Subsequent Research Performance of Early Career STEM Graduate Students

Abstract

Undergraduate research experiences have been adopted across higher education institutions. However, most studies examining benefits derived from undergraduate research rely on self-report of skill development. This study used an empirical assessment of research skills to investigate associations between undergraduate research experiences and research skill performance in graduate school. Research experience characteristics including duration, autonomy, collaboration, and motivation were also examined. Undergraduate research experience was linked to heightened graduate school performance in all research skills assessed. While autonomy and collaboration were highlighted in student interviews, duration was most strongly correlated to significant increases in research skill performance. Based on these findings, we advocate for the inclusion of research experiences into the undergraduate science curriculum coupled with the creation of centralized offices of undergraduate research and faculty incentives for involving undergraduates in their research.

• undergraduate research
• STEM

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Joanna Gilmore

Joanna Gilmore is a Research Associate with the Charleston County School District, Charleston, SC; [email protected].

Michelle Vieyra

Michelle Vieyra is Associate Professor, Department of Biology at the University of South Carolina-Aiken; [email protected].

Briana Timmerman

Briana Timmerman is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, and Director of Development for Advanced Career at the Southern Regional Education Board; [email protected].

David Feldon

David Feldon is Associate Professor, Department of Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences, and director of the USU STE²M Center at Utah State University; [email protected].

Michelle Maher

Michelle Maher is Professor of Higher Education Administration, University of Missouri-Kansas City, MO; [email protected].