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E&ER conducted a large qualitative research study focusing on four liberal arts colleges with a long history of undergraduate research. Longitudinal and comparative, this study addressed fundamental questions about the benefits (and costs) of undergraduate engagement in faculty-mentored, authentic research undertaken outside of class. The study documented student and faculty perceptions of the benefits of undergraduate participation in research, examined the processes through which these benefits were achieved, and compared outcomes in the short and longer term between research participants and non-participants.

Findings from this and other studies provided the framework for theÌýUndergraduate Research Student Self-Assessment (URSSA)Ìýan online survey instrument for departments and programs to use to evaluate student outcomes from participation in research.

• Laursen, S., Seymour, E., & Hunter, A.-B. (2012).Ìý.ÌýChange: The Magazine of Higher LearningÌý44(2), 30-37.
  • Also published as Ch. 13 in Miller, M. A. (ed.) (2017),Ìý.Ìý New York:Ìý Taylor & Francis.
• Thiry, H., Laursen, S. L., & Hunter, A.-B. (2011). What experiences help students become scientists? A comparative study of research and other sources of personal and professional gains for STEM undergraduates.ÌýJournal of Higher EducationÌý82(4), 357-388.Ìý
• Laursen, S., Hunter, A.-B., Seymour, E., Thiry, H., & Melton, G. (2010).Ìý. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
• Hunter, A.-B., Weston, T.J., Laursen, S.L., & Thiry, H. (2009). URSSA: Evaluating student gains from undergraduate research in science education.ÌýCouncil on Undergraduate Research Quarterly, 29(3): 15-19. [Author accepted manuscript]
• Hunter, A.-B., Laursen, S. L., & Seymour, E. (2008). Benefits of participating in undergraduate research in science: Comparing student and faculty perceptions, Ch. 7 inÌýCreating Effective Undergraduate Research Programs in Science: The Transformation from Student to Scientist, R. Taraban, R. L. Blanton, eds. New York: Teachers College Press, pp. 135-171.
• Hunter, A.-B., Laursen, S.L., & Seymour, E. (2007). .ÌýScience Education, 91(1): 36-74.Ìý
• Laursen, S.L., Hunter, A.-B., Seymour, E. & DeAntoni, T. (2006.) In J. J. Mintzes and W. Leonard (eds.),ÌýHandbook of College Science TeachingÌý(pp. 55-66). Arlington, VA: NSTA Press.
• Seymour, E., Hunter, A.-B., Laursen, S.L., & DeAntoni, T. (2004). .ÌýScience Education, 88: 493-534.

This study was supported by the National Science Foundation's Research on Learning and Education program under grant DRL-0087677, and by a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Other funders include the Spencer Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Noyce Foundation, and Research Corporation for Scientific Advancement, and the National Science Foundation under grant CHE-0548488, jointly supported by the Division of Chemistry, the Division of Undergraduate Education, the Biological Sciences Directorate and the Office of Multidisciplinary Affairs.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in these reports are those of the researchers, and do not necessarily represent the official views, opinions, or policy of the National Science Foundation.Ìý

E&ER carried out a multi-year evaluation of three undergraduate research (UR) programs in the biosciences at the Â鶹ӰԺ. TheÌýBiological Science InitiativeÌýadministers two UR programs, UROP and BURST, and partners with theÌýNIH/HHMI Scholars Program for Diversity in the Biosciences.

• The UROP program (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program) is an established university program for advanced undergraduates.
• The BURST program (Bioscience Undergraduate Research Skills and Training) was designed by the BSI as an introductory research experience
• The NIH/HHMI Scholars Program for Diversity in the Biosciences targets ethnic minority and first-generation, low-income students and offers a multi-year research experience.

Both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered about students’ gains from their research experiences, the authenticity of their research work, and the quality of mentoring they received. Findings demonstrate students' intellectual and professional growth as they gain research experience. We also studied advisors' motivations and outcomes from participation in UR, including graduate students, postdocs, and faculty who work with undergraduate researchers.

• Hayward, C. N., Laursen, S. L., & Thiry, H. (2017). .ÌýCBE Life Sciences EducationÌý16(1), ar13. doiÌý0.1187/cbe.16-07-0229 [Full article]
• Hayward, C., Thiry, H. & Laursen, S. (2013). Evaluation of the undergraduate research programs of the Biological Sciences Initiative: Advisors’ perspectives. (Report to the BSI). Ethnography & Evaluation Research. Center to Advance Research and Teaching in the Social Sciences, Â鶹ӰԺ.Ìý
• Thiry, H., Weston, T. J., Laursen, S. L., & Hunter, A.-B. (2012). .ÌýCBE Life Sciences EducationÌý11(Fall), 260-272.Ìý
• Thiry, H. & Laursen, S. L. (2011). .ÌýJournal of Science Education and Technology, published online January 1, 2011. DOI 10.1007/s10956-010-9271-2. [author accepted MS]
• Thiry, H. & Laursen, S. L. (2009).ÌýStudent outcomes from undergraduate research: An evaluation of three academic year and summer undergraduate research programs at the University of Colorado at Â鶹ӰԺ, 2007-2008.Ìý(Report to the Biological Science Initiative and the NIH Scholars Program for Diversity in the Biosciences). Â鶹ӰԺ, CO: Â鶹ӰԺ, Ethnography & Evaluation Research.Ìý
• Thiry, H. & Laursen, S. L. (2009).ÌýEvaluation of the undergraduate research programs of the Biological Science Initiative: Students' intellectual, personal, and professional outcomes from participation in research.Ìý(Report to the Biological Science Initiative). Â鶹ӰԺ, CO: Â鶹ӰԺ, Ethnography & Evaluation Research.Ìý
• Coates, C., Thiry, H., Liston, C. & Laursen, S. (2005).ÌýEvaluation of the Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Biological Science at the University of Colorado and Comparative Analysis of Summer and Academic Year Programs, 2002-03 and 2003-04.Ìý(Report to the Biological Sciences Initiative) Â鶹ӰԺ, CO: Â鶹ӰԺ, Ethnography & Evaluation Research.

We have worked with leaders in the biology UR community to useÌýURSSAÌýas a common program assessment tool across funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) projects in biology. The dual goal is to inform REU program development and delivery and to provide essential data to the National Science Foundation about the national impact of REUs on student learning and achievement. Through this project we have learned much about how to adapt the survey instrument and its technology platform for this type of multi-program assessment. The most recent report represents over 800 Bio REU students and over 1100 students who participated in other UR programs. Visit the . In addition, data from Bio REU and other UR programs helped to inform our validation study of the URSSA instrument.

• Weston, T. J., & Laursen, S. L. (2015).Ìý .Ìý CBE-Life Sciences Education,Ìý14(3), ar33. DOI 10.1187/cbe.14-11-0206
• Weston, T. (2013). BIO REU Third Year Report. (Report to BIO REU). Â鶹ӰԺ, CO: Â鶹ӰԺ, ATLAS Assessment and Research Center.
• Weston, T. (2012). BIO REU Second Year Report. (Report to BIO REU). Â鶹ӰԺ, CO: Â鶹ӰԺ, ATLAS Assessment and Research Center.Ìý
• Weston, T. (2011). BIO REU Interim Report. (Report to BIO REU). Â鶹ӰԺ, CO: Â鶹ӰԺ, ATLAS Assessment and Research Center.Ìý

This study was supported by the National Science Foundation under award DBI-1052683. We thank Janet Branchaw, Julio Soto and the BIO REU Leadership Council. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in these reports are those of the researchers, and do not necessarily represent the official views, opinions, or policy of the National Science Foundation.

In addition to the specific findings discussed in the sections above, these papers offer comments on the challenges in assessing undergraduate research.

• Laursen, S. L. (2015).Ìý. InÌýCritical examination of laboratory-centered instruction and experimental research in physics education, 2015 PERC Proceedings [College Park, MD, July 29-30, 2015], eds. A. D. Churukian, D. L. Jones, and L. Ding, pp. 18-21. [PDF]
• Weston, T. J., & Laursen, S. L. (2015).Ìý .Ìý CBE-Life Sciences Education,Ìý14(3), ar33. DOI 10.1187/cbe.14-11-0206
• Laursen, S. L. (2015).Ìý .Ìý Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly 35(3), 9-14. [PDF]
• Hunter, A.-B., Weston, T.J., Laursen, S.L., & Thiry, H. (2009). URSSA: Evaluating student gains from undergraduate research in science education.ÌýCouncil on Undergraduate Research Quarterly, 29(3): 15-19. [Author accepted manuscript]