Effects of Research-Related Activities on Graduation at a Hispanic Serving Institution

Abstract

This paper reports on the results of a study of 6,654 unique students on the type of research-related activities (e.g., undergraduate research and internships) they participated in while at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona). Results indicate that the odds of graduating for students who participated in research-related activities were almost twice those of students who did not participate in research-related activities. These results differ from and complement studies on the impact of undergraduate research at liberal arts colleges and research-intensive universities. Study results indicate that non-first-generation students, non-low-income students, and non-underrepresented minority (non-URM) students were more likely to participate in research. Participation in internships with industry and with a professional were most predictive of graduation. Students who participated in multiple research-related activities were also more likely to graduate than those who participated in fewer activities; results indicate research participation is equally beneficial across groups with different demographic characteristics including major, sex, first generation and URM status.