Promoting Diversity: Access and Engagement in Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers
Sylvia Hurtado, Professor & Director
Mitchell Chang, Associate Professor
Higher Education Research Institute, UCLA
January, 2008
Freshmen Interest in Biomedical Fields, CIRP Annual Survey
Underrepresented Racial Minorities (URMs) include African American/Black, Native American, Chicano, Puerto Rican, and Other Latino.
Biomedical Pre-Majors include biology, biochemistry, chemistry, microbiology, pharmacy, pre-med, and zoology.
Freshmen Interest in Biomedical Fields, CIRP Annual Survey
Underrepresented Racial Minorities (URMs) include African American/Black, Native American, Chicano, Puerto Rican, and Other Latino.
Biomedical Pre-Majors include biology, biochemistry, chemistry, microbiology, pharmacy, pre-med, and zoology.
Research Plan: Key Components
What happens to individual students over time in terms of their access, engagement, retention, and commitment to biomedical research?
CIRP Freshman Survey, administered at orientation at over 720 institutions (baseline sample), 644 with URMs with initial intentions for biological/behavioral science majors
YFCY End of First Year Survey--160 institutions in working sample
Classroom-based surveys of introductory courses in 5-6 institutions, focus groups and site visits
Four-year follow-up: College Senior Survey at 160 institutions with potential to follow into postgraduate careers and graduate school.
Phase I: CIRP Freshman Survey (SIF)
Data collection completed Fall 2004, three papers and report, Aspiring Scientists,
Key Findings
Over two-thirds of URMs aspiring to major in BBS fields also aspire to achieve a graduate degree, but only 4.5% indicated a potential scientific research career (compared with 7.1 for white and 5.3% of Asian students).
URM aspirants take fewer years of math and science that White/Asian counterparts
Self-efficacy and goal development supercedes effect of academic credentials and background characteristics on aspirations to become a scientist
More URM students report concerns about financing their college career and this has a negative impact on their intention to contribute to scientific research
Phase II: First-year follow-up (YFCY)
Final longitudinal sample included 5,049 students from 160 institutions.
Key Findings
Only 11.8 % of URMS report participating in a college level health science research program, 21.8 participated in academic enrichment programs, 19.6 participated in a professor's research
Students articulate values associated with scientific research careers but are not specific about these career intentions
Different support structures are available not only across institutions but within institutions, indicating where students get support has important implications for their success
Training future scientists: Predicting first-year minority student participation in health science research. Research in Higher Education. (available online)
First-year experience courses and participation in departmental clubs significantly increase students' likelihood of engaging in health science research
Receiving advice from upper-division students and interacting with faculty more often increased students' odds of participation in research
Students were twice as likely to participate in research if institutions offered first-year students structured research opportunities, Black students were four-times more likely
Black students social self-concept, participation in a learning community, and positive interactions across race/ethnicity were key in predicting research participation
Retaining Science Students After One Year in College. Review of Higher Education (in press)
Participating in a health science research program significantly increased students' odds of persisting in their science major through the end of the first year of college.
Attending more selective institutions has a significantly negative effect on all students' likelihood to persist in their science major through the end of the first year.
However, attending institutions with higher percentages of students attaining bachelor's degrees in BBS fields significantly increases URM students' likelihood of persisting in their science major through the end of the first year.
Lessons Learned
A continued focus on preparation for URM students who have a disposition for scientific research
More exposure to scientific research careers is needed early on in college for students to understand what it means to become a scientist
Structured opportunities on campuses make a difference for students, particularly Black students
Developing an institutional ethos of talent development in BBS fields significantly increases URM students persistence in the major to graduation
Student quotes in focus groups:
"We do science here"
"This institution takes you to the next level".
Academic Papers and Reports
The pre-college characteristics and experiences of minority students committed to scientific research careers (2006). Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, 12, 61-83.
Predicting transition and adjustment to college: Minority biomedical and behavioral science students' first year of college. (2007) Research in Higher Education, 48(7), 841-887.
Training future scientists: Predicting first-year minority student participation in health science research. Research in Higher Education. (online now and in press, Spring 2008)
Retaining Science Students After One Year in College. Review of Higher Education (in press)
Examining the effect of stereotype threat on retention of first-year science students (in progress)
Final Phase: College Senior Survey
Retention in the major, preparation for graduate school, post-college plans
Program participation effects on a variety of aspirations and outcomes
Plans to administer the follow-up survey to aspirants at 160 institutions
Plans to obtain registrar's data to confirm major and retention
RESOURCES & Project Staff
Papers and reports are available for download from project website
Project email:
RESEARCH STAFF
Sylvia Hurtado, Co-PI
Mitch Chang, Co-PI
Graduate Research Assistants
Lucy Arellano
Kevin Eagan
Lorelle Espinosa
Monica Lin
Project website: