Undergraduate Research Experiences: Coming Up With a Universal Definition of Success and Assessment Instrument

• In Event: Roundtable Session 10
  In Roundtable Session: Methods for Understanding the College Student Experience

Abstract

Undergraduate research experiences (URE) have grown in numbers and rigor over the past years. Most of this is a result of the current emphasis on the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Creating worthwhile UREs that can be shown to be successful is essential. Overall, there is a paucity of literature on a definition of success of a URE or instruments that can be transferred to any STEM URE to reliably, validly and quantitatively measure success. Is there a universal definition of success for a URE? Is there a way to quantitatively measure success across disciplines, student backgrounds/experience, and program? This proposal will attempt to answer these questions through quantitative and qualitative data from a multi-site STEM-focused URE.

Authors

• Courtney Brown, Lumina Foundation

• Adam V. Maltese, Indiana University

• Joseph A. Harsh, Indiana University