The Benefits of Research Experiences

Research has shown that research experiences are important to the academic and professional development of students. Some of the major benefits include:

• “Inviting students to invest intellectually in a project gives them the opportunity to help shape its direction, exert some of their own creativity and experience the joy of intellectual ‘ownership’ of the products resulting from the effort” (p. 6, Elgren and Hensel 2006).
• Faculty contact with students and a research emphasis has a “significant impact on satisfaction with education in the major and the perceived impact that college had on skill development” (p. 209, Ulmbach and Porter 2002).
• Research experiences provide numerous benefits related to the personal development of students including: growth in self-confidence, increased tolerance for obstacles, interest in the discipline and sense of accomplishment (Lopatto 2006).
• Research experiences help better prepare undergraduate students for graduate research requirements (Gates et al. 1999).
• Research experiences can: “result in more successful and competitive alumni, serve as a selling point for recruiting freshman, provide positive publicity, lead to greater overall productivity, and impart a more mature learning atmosphere.” (90, Schneider 2004).