Open AccessImpact of Undergraduate Research Training Programs: An Illustrative Example of Finding a Comparison Group and Evaluating Academic and Graduate School Outcomes
Author(s) -
Kaitlyn N. Stormes,
Nicole A. Streicker,
Graham K. Bowers,
Perla Ayala,
Guido G. Urizar
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
scholarship and practice of undergraduate research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
pISSN - 2476-101X
DOI - 10.18833/spur/5/3/8
Subject(s) - propensity score matching , graduation (instrument) , medical education , diversity (politics) , matching (statistics) , psychology , graduate students , academic institution , institution , medicine , political science , computer science , engineering , mechanical engineering , pathology , library science , law
In this study, researchers at a large, urban, comprehensive minority-serving institution used propensity score matching to identify a unique comparison group to study academic and graduate school outcomes in students served by the National Institutes of Health–funded Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) Initiative. Acknowledging that students’ self-selection biases may confound findings, the use of propensity methods to match students served with those who were not (but were otherwise eligible) provides a valuable tool for evaluators and practitioners to combat this challenge and better evaluate their effectiveness and impact on students’ success. This study’s findings indicate that BUILD participants had higher academic and graduate school success with regard to cumulative GPA, units attempted and completed, graduation status, and application and admission to graduate programs.