Undergraduate Research and Student Well-Being

by Jessie L. Moore

October 27, 2022

60-Second SoTL – Episode 9

This week’s episode features a recent open-access article from Studies in Higher Education and explores how engaging in authentic, mentored undergraduate research can contribute to student well-being:

Walkington, Helen, and Belinda Ommering. 2022. “How Does Engaging in Authentic Research at Undergraduate Level Contribute to Student Well-Being? Studies in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2022.2082400

View a transcript of this episode.

The episode was hosted by Jessie L. Moore, Director of the Center for Engaged Learning and Professor of Professional Writing & Rhetoric. 60-Second SoTL is produced by the Center for Engaged Learning at Elon University.

Read More about Mentored, Authentic Undergraduate Research and Inquiry

  • Ommering, Belinda W. C., Merel van Diepen, Floris M. van Blankenstein, Peter G. M. de Jong, and Friedo W. Dekker. 2020. “Twelve Tips to Offer a Short Authentic and Experiential Individual Research Opportunity to a Large Group of Undergraduate Students.” Medical Teacher 42 (10): 1128–1133. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159x.2019.1695766 [Open Access]
  • Ommering, Belinda W. C., Marjo Wijnen-Meijer, Diana H. J. M. Dolmans, Friedo W. Dekker, and Floris M. van Blankenstein. 2020. “Promoting Positive Perceptions of and Motivation for Research among Undergraduate Medical Students to Stimulate Future Research Involvement: A Grounded Theory Study.” BMC Medical Education 20: 204. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02112-6 [Open Access]
  • Shanahan, J. O., E. Ackley-Holbrook, E. Hall, K. Stewart, and H. Walkington. 2015. “Ten Salient Practices of Undergraduate Research Mentors: A Review of the Literature.” Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning 23 (5): 359–376. https://doi.org/10.1080/13611267.2015.1126162
  • Vandermaas-Peeler, M., P. C. Miller, and J. L. Moore. 2018. Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research. Washington, DC: Council on Undergraduate Research.
  • Wald, N., and T. Harland. 2017. “A Framework for Authenticity in Designing a Research-Based Curriculum.” Teaching in Higher Education 22 (7): 751–765. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2017.1289509
  • Walkington, H., K. A. Stewart, E. E. Hall, E. Ackley, and J. O. Shanahan. 2020. “Salient Practices of Award-Winning Undergraduate Research Mentors – Balancing Freedom and Control to Achieve Excellence.” Studies in Higher Education 45 (7): 1519–1532. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1637838

Read More About Mentored Undergraduate Research on CEL’s Blog

Background picture of two people at a desk with their laptops open and looking at graphs. White bold text reads: "Presenting is a noteworthy accomplishment which encourages students to deeply analyze and synthesize their research, helping them gain a more thorough understanding of their work." Author names: Sabrina L. Thurman, Kenan Carter, Anna Grace Gilbert, Megan Parks, and Kyla Zeldin.

Collaboration in Creation: A Guide for Preparing and Presenting Research Posters – Part 2, For Mentors 

In our previous post, we, the members of the Infant Development Lab, shared advice for students on how to prepare to present research posters. In Part 2 of this series, we will now share several ways faculty mentors can support…

White quote text on red and orang illustration of academics at a poster presentation: "Not only can presenting challenge you to think of your research from the perspective of a viewer, but it will also push you to contribute something unique to your field of research."

Collaboration in Creation: A Guide for Preparing and Presenting Research Posters – Part 1, For Students 

“No idea is fully formed until it can be communicated.”   The Boyer Commission 1998 As we near the end of the academic year, many undergraduate research students and their mentors are planning to present research posters showcasing their accomplishments. In…

Computer lab with Mac desktops and a window with trees outside. Red quare of text reads: "the physical transactions we have with spaces and social interactions held within then have important consequences"

What’s in an Undergraduate Research Space?

This semester, we have found ourselves thinking about the importance of research spaces for undergraduate research mentoring and research productivity. Dr. Thurman recently returned from a post-promotion sabbatical and rebuilt the infrastructure for her lab. Her psychology research program centers…

Undergraduate Research and Implications for Life Development

Making College “Worth It” – Season 2, Episode 4 In this episode, we consider how undergraduate research impacts a student’s inquiry, sense of belonging, and long-term career. Drawing from in-depth interviews with alumni across the disciplines, Kristine Johnson and Michael…

Read More about Well-Being

  • Ryan, R. M., and E. L. Deci. 2000. “Self-determination Theory and the Facilitation of Intrinsic Motivation, Social Development, and Well-Being.” American Psychologist 55 (1): 68–78.
  • Ryan, R. M., and E. L. Deci. 2017. Self-determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness. New York: Guilford Publications. 
  • Sheldon, K. M., N. Abad, Y. Ferguson, A. Funz, L. Houser-Marko, C. P. Nichols, et al. 2009. “Persistent Pursuit of Need-Satisfying Goals Leads to Increased Happiness: A 6-Month Experimental Longitudinal Study.” Motivation and Emotion 34 (1): 39–48.

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