The Influence Of A Research Experiences For Undergraduates Program On Students’ Attitudes Toward Engineering Research

The results of the second year study of a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site are presented in this paper. The program recruited students nationwide to participate in hands-on experimental research in a mechanical engineering department for eight weeks in the summer of 2008. The program matched 10 students with faculty and graduate student mentors in several mechanical engineering laboratories, including experimental fluid dynamics, micro-sensors, laser micromachining, and advanced manufacturing. Participants attended seminars on experimental uncertainty, planning experiments, and presentation of experimental data. Students also attended field trips to local companies where they met with practicing mechanical engineers. Applicant surveys were employed to learn about the interests and background of applicants, how they learned of the REU program, and why they wished to participate. Among findings of interest were that one-third of student applicants decided to study engineering during the senior year of high school or later, that student applicants were much more likely to have been influenced to study engineering by family or high school teachers than by high school counselors, and that college faculty played a major role in students‟ interest in an REU program. The admitted students participated in First Day and Final Day surveys and focus groups. Among the focus group insights were the realization that research often does not provide the “closure” that students would expect from an academic course, an appreciation for the precision that research requires, the importance of research literature to the engineering knowledge base, and the patience required to execute experimental programs. The report also discusses how results from the 2007 study of participants at the same REU site were used to implement improvements in the 2008 program, including a seminar on evaluating graduate programs and applying to graduate school. The paper will also compare and contrast participant responses from the 2007 and 2008 program evaluations.