title: Fine-Tuning Summer Research Programs to Promote Underrepresented Students' Persistence in the STEM Pathway.
abstract: Although the importance of undergraduate research experiences in preparing students for graduate study and research careers is well documented, specific examination of program components is needed to assess the impact of these programs on underrepresented (UR) students. The Leadership Alliance, a consortium of leading PhD-granting and minority-serving institutions (MSIs), has leveraged its diverse partnership to place UR students from MSI and non-MSI institutions in competitive research environments through its national Summer Research Early Identification Program. Using longitudinal pre/post data collected from student surveys, we applied social cognitive career theory as a conceptual framework to examine how research engagement, skill development, and mentorship aspects of a summer research program affect students' commitment to pursue research careers. Self-reported knowledge of research skills, time engaged in research activity, and students' understanding of and attitudes toward pursuing graduate study were measured in relation to the classification of students' home undergraduate institution, level of students' pre-existing research experience, and demographic factors. Our results provide evidence of specific programmatic components that are beneficial for UR students from varying academic and cultural backgrounds. This study describes important aspects of summer research programs that will contribute to students' ability to persist in science careers.
authors: Leadership Alliance, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912 Medeva_Ghee@brown.edu.
authors: Medeva
authors: M
authors: Ghee
authors: Department of Comparative Human Development, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637.
authors: Micere
authors: M
authors: Keels
authors: Leadership Alliance, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912.
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Collins
authors: UNCF/Mellon Programs and Department of Sociology, Spelman College, Atlanta, GA 30314.
authors: Cynthia
authors: C
authors: Neal-Spence
authors: Meyerhoff Scholarship Program, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250.
authors: Earnestine
authors: E
authors: Baker
mesh_terms: D002321:Career Choice; D003710:Demography; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004738:Engineering / Q000193:education*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics / Q000193:education*; D000071252:Mentoring; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000193:education*; D016730:Program Development; D012106:Research / Q000193:education*; D012586:Science / Q000193:education*; D013334:Students; D013672:Technology / Q000193:education*