Developing Researcher Agency through Engagement in Co-Curricular Assessment Jorge Alcaraz & Kristen McKinney UCLA Student Affairs Information and Research Office
Why engage students in co-curricular assessment? Student Affairs Information and Research Office February 22, 2019 2
What is URPI? Student Affairs Information and Research Office February 22, 2019 3
Undergraduate Research Partnership Initiative • Research/Assessment internship sponsored by SAIRO • 5-10 students per year • No previous experience required • Balance of training and execution of work • Team meetings • Significant back and forth communication • Topics of interest to Student Affairs Student Affairs Information and Research Office February 22, 2019 4
Program Evolution CREDIT-BASED RESEARCH EXP PAID ASSESSMENT INTERNSHIP • Offered as a lower division contract • 10 HPW paid internship course (P/NP) • Assessment consultant model • Research questions with broad • Questions focused more to a campus and higher education departmental level implications • Recommendations and reporting • Reporting for general SA audience targeted to specific programs Student Affairs Information and Research Office February 22, 2019 5
Student Affairs Information and Research Office February 22, 2019 6
URPI Learning Outcomes Student Affairs Information and Research Office February 22, 2019 7
Learn the foundations of research and assessment “I definitely learned the foundations of research and assessment through URPI, with the help of current doctoral student Jorge Alcaraz. It was through this cohort that I learned how to formulate effective research questions as well as developing questionnaires that aid answering the principal question. I was taught how to conduct interviews, record & analyze data, and write & present the main findings of our research project.” Student Affairs Information and Research Office February 22, 2019 8
Gain familiarity with measure and methods used in assessment • “ I have learned how to do transcriptions, write research memos, conduct interviews, and use coding schematics” • “Learning the steps involved in qualitative research, interviewing skills, learning how to code, learning more about international students in higher education” • “URPI taught me how to create open-ended interview questions, how to conduct research , and most importantly, how to work in a group towards completing a specific research task. URPI was also critical in helping develop my interview and public speaking skills.” Student Affairs Information and Research Office February 22, 2019 9
Draft professional research and assessment reports, as well as recommendations for action “Drafting professional research and assessment reports as well as recommendations for actions has been a significant experience in my career as a young researcher. Being exposed to the whole process from beginning to end, and having mentors along the way really set the foundation of these skills for me. As a first-generation student, the research world was new to me, and URPI definitely fostered a community for students like me to learn the steps in conducting qualitative research. Being able to have done this for UCLA made me feel like I was contributing to the school, specifically UCLA students since my project analyzed the interaction employers have with UCLA students through the UCLA Career Center.” Student Affairs Information and Research Office February 22, 2019 10
Draft professional research and assessment reports, as well as recommendations for action “In terms of drafting research and assessment reports and recommendations, it was a completely new experience for me. While I had compiled reports in the past, I had never offered recommendations. Creating recommendations provided my group and I the opportunity to reflect on the feedback that we gathered and collectively decide which topics needed to be addressed . Being part of the final report and presentation that my group and I created gave me a sense of greater belonging to UCLA . Moreover, participating in URPI, one of several research initiatives here at UCLA, allowed me to form great relationships with my group and my supervisor.” Student Affairs Information and Research Office February 22, 2019 11
Engage in professional development opportunities intended to support their future academic and professional endeavors “After the short period of time being with URPI, my educational skills have improved tremendously. I am a Sociology major and a huge part of the major includes analyzing scholarly articles. Being a 1st generation student and coming from a low-income family, school and community I lacked many college level skills and knowledge. Through URPI I have learned skills and strategies to perform at the college level because of our practice with analyzing articles and simply learning about the system. I am also gaining professional skills around research in the social science field which is something that most undergrads don't have access to” Student Affairs Information and Research Office February 22, 2019 12
Engage in professional development opportunities intended to support their future academic and professional endeavors “Aside from developing research experience, I was also taught skills in professional development such as how to prepare for interviews and refine my resume. It is because of URPI that I now work with Dr. Anna Lau in her Cultural Minority Mental Health lab alongside doctoral student Blanche Wright understanding cultural competency in provider-patient sessions in a Latinx community. I am currently being funded through PROPS to conduct my own independent research in mental health disparities among Latinx and Asian students in the Alhambra School District. I could have not done this without my mentor Jorge Alcaraz, and cohort directors Kevin Cleland and Kristen McKinney.” Student Affairs Information and Research Office February 22, 2019 13
Thank You Student Affairs Information and Research Office February 22, 2019 14
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