ERIC Number: EJ1123468
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0307-5079
EISSN: N/A
Early Undergraduate Research Experiences Lead to Similar Learning Gains for STEM and Non-STEM Undergraduates
Stanford, Jennifer S.; Rocheleau, Suzanne E.; Smith, Kevin P. W.; Mohan, Jaya
Studies in Higher Education, v42 n1 p115-129 2017
Undergraduate research is touted as a high-impact educational practice yielding important benefits such as increased retention and notable learning gains. Large-scale studies describing benefits of mentored research programs have focused primarily on outcomes for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) undergraduates. The Students Tackling Advanced Research (STAR) Scholars Program at Drexel University provides research experiences to freshman undergraduates in STEM and Non-STEM disciplines. In the 12 years since its establishment, the STAR Scholars Program has paired over 900 students with nearly 300 faculty mentors. Program outcomes were assessed using the URSSA (Undergraduate Research Student Self-Assessment) tool. Here the program structure, participant demographics and student outcomes are described. In addition to observing expected increases in retention and learning gains, very few statistically significant differences in learning gains and motivations for conducting research among STEM and Non-STEM student populations were found. These data suggest that early research experiences can benefit undergraduate students from both STEM and Non-STEM disciplines.
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Student Research, STEM Education, Mentors, Research Projects, College Freshmen, Outcomes of Education, Achievement Gains, Research Universities, College Faculty, Teacher Surveys, Teacher Motivation, Likert Scales
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)
Grant or Contract Numbers: IOS1256114