Preparation and participation of undergraduate students to inform culturally sensitive research.
Most student work as research assistants occurs at the graduate level of nursing education, and little is known about the role of undergraduate students as research assistants (RAs) in major research projects. Based on our desire to study Mexican American (MA) cancer caregivers, we needed bilingual and bicultural RAs to serve as data collectors with women who spoke Spanish and possessed cultural beliefs that influenced their caregiving. Following successful recruitment, orientation, and mentoring based on Bandura's social learning theory [Bandura, A., 2001. Social learning theory: an agentic perspective. Annual Review of Psychology 52, 1-26] and accepted teaching-learning principles, RAs engaged in various behaviors that facilitated study outcomes. Faculty researchers, RAs, and study participants benefitted greatly from the undergraduate student involvement in this project. This article describes successful student inclusion approaches, ongoing faculty-RA interactions, and lessons learned from the research team experience. Guidelines discussed support the potential for making the undergraduate RA role a useful and unique learning experience.
Wells
Jo Nell
JN
Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76129, USA. J.Wells@tcu.edu
Cagle
Carolyn Spence
CS
D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D054521:Cultural Competency / Q000193:education*; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004651:Employment / Q000458:organization & administration; D005181:Faculty, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D005190:Family / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000208:ethnology; D019303:Multilingualism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration; D012107:Research Design; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D016746:Transcultural Nursing / Q000193:education*; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology