Assessing the Perceived Value of Research Participation

Undergraduate psychology majors are encouraged to engage in research to improve understanding of research methods and increase research skills. This study examines the potential of volunteering as a research participant to increase student perceptions of knowledge and interest in research. Undergraduate students completed a survey regarding the value of research participation. Results showed that across all classifications (i.e., freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior), students reported higher levels of both understanding research and interest in research after research participation. Given these results, we suggest that including research participation as a part of the psychology undergraduate curriculum can serve as an effective hands-on experience for all undergraduate students.