Can a Biomedical Research Initiative Increase Researcher Self-Efficacy Among Historically Marginalized First-Year College Students?

• In Event: Measuring Student Skills and Collegiate Learning

Abstract

The BUilding Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) Scholar Program provided undergraduates from underrepresented backgrounds with research training, scholarships, extensive advising and mentoring, to help them get onto research career paths. One goal of the program is increasing students’ scientific researcher self-efficacy, since it was proved to be connected to degree completion and career outcomes. This study examined whether this program had an impact on increasing first year college students’ researcher self-efficacy. The study used survey data to explore program effectiveness, and employed PSM and sensitivity analysis to address selection bias and unobserved confounder issues. Findings indicated the effectiveness of the program, and proved that research training, financial support, advising and mentoring activities were beneficial for improving students’ researcher self-efficacy.

Authors

• Shujin Zhong, University of Maryland - College Park

• Krystle Cobian, University of California - Los Angeles