Using the Psychology Research Experience Preparedness (PREP) Program to Encourage Research Engagement Amongst Undergraduate Students

Background Undergraduate psychology research experiences offer many benefits for students. The Psychology Research Experience Preparedness (PREP) program was developed to demystify the research process and broaden participation amongst undergraduate psychology students. Objective This study measures changes to students’ knowledge, confidence, and intentions to pursue research experience after completing PREP, and identifies gaps for improvement. Method Thirty-seven undergraduates completed pre- and post-test measures of knowledge, confidence, and intentions to pursue research opportunities. They also listed questions they had about research at both time points. Results After completing PREP, participants’ knowledge of and intentions to engage in research significantly increased. Moreover, participants’ questions about the research process shifted from knowledge gaps to feasibility of engaging in research. Conclusion This small-scale study provided potential evidence that PREP may help to inform and encourage students to join research labs. However, further work is needed to refine the program and address remaining knowledge gaps. Teaching Implications PREP is a free resource that faculty can use to encourage research participation or as part of the recruitment or onboarding process for research labs, which may broaden participation in psychological science.