View in EDS

Enhancing Graduate Education Pathways: A Case Study of a STEM Undergraduate Research Experience Program

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Enhancing Graduate Education Pathways: A Case Study of a STEM Undergraduate Research Experience Program
Language: English
Authors: Sarah Mason, Frank Fernandez, Shannon Sharp, Gabriela Chavira, Crist Khachikian, Patchareeya Kwan, Carrie Saetermoe
Source: Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education. 2026 17(3):331-345.
Availability: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 15
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS)
Contract Number: RL5GM118975
TL4GM118977
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: STEM Education, Undergraduate Students, Student Research, Graduate Study, Student Attitudes, Intention, Research Projects, Public Colleges, Hispanic American Students, Minority Serving Institutions, Disproportionate Representation, Academic Aspiration
DOI: 10.1108/SGPE-05-2024-0053
ISSN: 2398-4686
Abstract: Purpose: Many studies have examined undergraduate research experiences (UREs) as an influential approach to encouraging undergraduates to pursue doctoral education. However, less is known about the different ways UREs can support students in developing and pursuing graduate intentions. This paper aims to understand how a URE program can support students' intentions to apply to and enroll in graduate education. Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted an instrumental case study that focuses on one URE as a bounded system. Using a constant-comparative analytical method, the authors propose a typology of different types of support that mattered to students who participated in the URE. Findings: The URE offered four types of support: aspirational support, social support, functional support and connections to opportunities. Within the domain of functional support, this study identified a specific type of assistance -- financial support -- necessary for many students from underrepresented backgrounds to forego outside employment and participate in the URE. Originality/value: This case study builds upon prior quantitative research that examines the relationship between URE participation and an array of affective, educational and career outcomes. Although this case study is not directly generalizable to other UREs, this paper offers a novel typology of support types and has potentially transferrable implications for considering how to design, evaluate and study UREs.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1508720
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1508720
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Enhancing Graduate Education Pathways: A Case Study of a STEM Undergraduate Research Experience Program
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sarah+Mason%22">Sarah Mason</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Frank+Fernandez%22">Frank Fernandez</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shannon+Sharp%22">Shannon Sharp</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gabriela+Chavira%22">Gabriela Chavira</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Crist+Khachikian%22">Crist Khachikian</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Patchareeya+Kwan%22">Patchareeya Kwan</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Carrie+Saetermoe%22">Carrie Saetermoe</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Studies+in+Graduate+and+Postdoctoral+Education%22"><i>Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 17(3):331-345.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 15
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: SourceSuprt
  Label: Sponsoring Agency
  Group: SrcSuprt
  Data: National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS)
– Name: NumberContract
  Label: Contract Number
  Group: NumCntrct
  Data: RL5GM118975<br />TL4GM118977
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22STEM+Education%22">STEM Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Research%22">Student Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduate+Study%22">Graduate Study</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intention%22">Intention</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+Projects%22">Research Projects</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+Colleges%22">Public Colleges</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hispanic+American+Students%22">Hispanic American Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Minority+Serving+Institutions%22">Minority Serving Institutions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disproportionate+Representation%22">Disproportionate Representation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Aspiration%22">Academic Aspiration</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1108/SGPE-05-2024-0053
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2398-4686
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: Many studies have examined undergraduate research experiences (UREs) as an influential approach to encouraging undergraduates to pursue doctoral education. However, less is known about the different ways UREs can support students in developing and pursuing graduate intentions. This paper aims to understand how a URE program can support students' intentions to apply to and enroll in graduate education. Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted an instrumental case study that focuses on one URE as a bounded system. Using a constant-comparative analytical method, the authors propose a typology of different types of support that mattered to students who participated in the URE. Findings: The URE offered four types of support: aspirational support, social support, functional support and connections to opportunities. Within the domain of functional support, this study identified a specific type of assistance -- financial support -- necessary for many students from underrepresented backgrounds to forego outside employment and participate in the URE. Originality/value: This case study builds upon prior quantitative research that examines the relationship between URE participation and an array of affective, educational and career outcomes. Although this case study is not directly generalizable to other UREs, this paper offers a novel typology of support types and has potentially transferrable implications for considering how to design, evaluate and study UREs.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1508720
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1508720
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1108/SGPE-05-2024-0053
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 15
        StartPage: 331
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: STEM Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Graduate Study
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intention
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research Projects
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Public Colleges
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hispanic American Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Minority Serving Institutions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Disproportionate Representation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic Aspiration
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Enhancing Graduate Education Pathways: A Case Study of a STEM Undergraduate Research Experience Program
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Sarah Mason
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Frank Fernandez
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Shannon Sharp
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Gabriela Chavira
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Crist Khachikian
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Patchareeya Kwan
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Carrie Saetermoe
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 11
              M: 06
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 2398-4686
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 17
            – Type: issue
              Value: 3
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1