gms | German Medical Science

Undergraduate research is a high-impact educational practice and an engaged form of learning. While it is acknowledged that faculty, institutions and students benefit from undergraduate research (UR), much of the research on the benefits of UR have focused on student learning outcomes. Benefits are typically reported within three domains: cognitive and intellectual growth; professional skill development and advancement (including academic achievement and education attainment); and personal growth and development. Given the numerous reported benefits of undergraduate research, many institutions are seeking to enhance and expand their undergraduate research programs by developing summer research programs, expanding honors and independent research opportunities, and integrating research into the curriculum. Associated with this increase is a need to better understand the effectiveness of undergraduate research and related activities. During this talk, the author will summarize research on undergraduate research and provide an overview of the research strategies that have been utilized. This will include a discussion of assessment approaches and their limitations (e.g., reliance on self-report, lack of experimental controls, limited assessment of cognitive outcomes). Strategies for developing a sustainable assessment plan for UR that focuses on student learning and evaluation of program effectiveness will be described.