Survey of undergraduate research experiences (SURE): First findings
Open accessAbstract
In this study, I examined the hypothesis that undergraduate research enhances the educational experience of science undergraduates, attracts and retains talented students to careers in science, and acts as a pathway for minority students into science careers. Undergraduates from 41 institutions participated in an online survey on the benefits of undergraduate research experiences. Participants indicated gains on 20 potential benefits and reported on career plans. Over 83% of 1,135 participants began or continued to plan for postgraduate education in the sciences. A group of 51 students who discontinued their plans for postgraduate science education reported significantly lower gains than continuing students. Women and men reported similar levels of benefits and similar patterns of career plans. Ethnic groups did not significantly differ in reported levels of benefits or plans to continue with postgraduate education.
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Previous studies have failed to find evidence that students of different genders or races differ in their scientific identity or intentions to pursue postgraduate education in biology or STEM after a research experience.
“These results are somewhat surprising, given that previous studies have failed to find evidence that students of different genders or races differ in their scientific identity or intentions to pursue postgraduate education in biology or STEM after a research experience (Lopatto, 2004; Eagan et al., 2013; Robnett et al., 2015).”
From Race and Gender Differences in Undergraduate Research Mentoring Structures and Research Outcomes (2017) · cites this paper as Lopatto, 2004
The Abstract and the sections on gender and ethnic differences report broadly similar postgraduate science plans and no significant group differences in how the research experience influenced those plans. The paper does not assess scientific identity, and its ethnic-group analysis notes relatively less interest among Asian-American students in biology-related Ph.D. programs, so the claim is too broad for biology-specific intentions. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredFor the UTP participants, the benefits of improved research abilities and increased efficacy are likely to affect subsequent performance in science courses and positively influence the self-assurance with which UTP students approach graduate education.
“For the UTP participants, the benefits of improved research abilities and increased efficacy are likely to affect subsequent performance in science courses [25] as well as positively influence the self-assurance with which UTP students approach graduate education [20], [26]–[28].”
From Underrepresented Minority High School and College Students Report STEM-Pipeline Sustaining Gains After Participating in the Loma Linda University Summer Health Disparities Research Program (2014) · cites this paper as [27]
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Cites
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Large Language Model‐Based Chatbots in Higher Education
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- Authors
- Lopatto, D.
- Affiliations
- Grinnell College (US)
- Corresponding author
- Lopatto, David
- Venue
- Cell Biology Education
- Published
- 2004-12
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 270-277
- ISSN
- 1536-7509 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC533131
- OpenAlex
- W2117966700
- Cited by
- 969
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 43 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 54 · 2023: 52 · 2022: 63 · 2021: 65 · 2020: 97 · 2019: 60 · 2018: 77 · 2017: 53 · 2016: 63 · 2015: 46 · 2014: 38 · 2013: 46 · 2012: 42
- FWCI
- 32.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Cell Biology Education (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation (0087611)
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Career Development and Diversity
- Social Sciences › Education › Higher Education Research Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Health and Medical Research Impacts
- Keywords
- undergraduate research experience, undergraduate science students, career aspirations, gender differences, ethnic differences
- MeSH terms
- Career Choice, Data Collection, Education, Graduate, Ethnicity, Humans, Learning, Research Personnel, Science, Sex Factors, Students, Teaching, Universities, Program Evaluation, Case-Control Studies
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