Benefits of Undergraduate Research Experiences

Undergraduate students'participation in hands-on research is widely believed to encourage students to pursue advanced degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. SRI International conducted a nationwide evaluation of undergraduate research opportunities (UROs) to understand who participates, what effects the experience has on them, and what factors favor positive outcomes. Our study included four Web-based surveys, conducted between 2003 and 2005 and involving almost 15,000 respondents. The survey instruments, detailed data tables, and analytical reports are available online (1).