Undergraduate Research as a High-Impact Practice

The following provides information to help faculty and administrators assess and implement undergraduate research as a high-impact practice at Kennesaw State University. You can also download a two-page and full-length document for your reference or to print.

Definition of Undergraduate Research 

“A mentored investigation or creative inquiry conducted by undergraduates that seeks to make a scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge” (Council on Undergraduate Research). 

Characteristics and Documented Impact

  1. Performance expectations set at appropriately high levels
    • Students are engaged in all aspects of the research process, making meaningful contributions to the work.
  2. Significant Investment of time and effort over an extended period
    • Students spend significant time and energy working on their research and working toward dissemination.
  3. Interactions with faculty and peers about substantive matters
    • Students work closely with their faculty mentor and teammates to achieve their research goals.
  4. Experiences with diversity
    • Students engage with diverse community members and worldviews, fostering intercultural competence.
  5. Frequent, timely, and constructive feedback
    • Students submit drafts of their abstracts, presentations, and publications before disseminating their work.
  6. Periodic, structured opportunities to reflect and integrate learning
    • Students reflect on their research experiences and integrate course learning into their projects.
  7. Opportunities to discover relevance of learning through real-world applications
    • Students work on research with real-world implications, generating excitement about their work.
  8. Public demonstration of competence
    • Students present and publish their research locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
  • Improved critical thinking and problem solving
  • Improved teamwork skills
  • Improved public speaking
  • Improved writing skills

 

Checklist to Undergraduate Research HIP

  • The research is supervised by a faculty member who has the necessary skill set to effectively mentor research projects in this course.
  • The research projects meet the ethical and safety guidelines for responsible conduct of research.  
  • The undergraduate research experience is appropriately scaffolded.  
  • The syllabus contains a list of measurable learning outcomes geared toward undergraduate research or creative inquiry in this discipline.  
  • There are frequent opportunities for students to receive feedback.  
  • If the undergraduate research or creative inquiry is a group, rather than individual, project, then the project is structured according to best practices for collaborative projects.
  • The research projects have the potential to make an original contribution to the literature in this discipline.
  • There is a tangible product at the end of the experience (paper, poster, oral presentation, etc.).  
  • There is a plan to disseminate this product publicly.  

Resources