Psychology Research Engagement Study: Examining Motivational Factors for Undergraduate Research

Grant program: Teaching and Learning Development Grant (TLDG)

Grant recipient: Steve Wright, Department of Psychology

Project team: Rebecca Cobb and Tanya Broesch, Department of Psychology, Sabrina Bhagat and Meg Signorelli, research assistants

Timeframe: June 2018 to August 2022

Funding: $5950

Final report: View Steve Wright's final report (PDF)

Description: In Fall 2019, the Psychology department will begin offering a research engagement course that allows students an opportunity to learn about the research process by engaging in a research assistantship (RA) in faculty research labs. Currently, about 200 undergraduate students serve as research assistants in faculty labs and most do so as volunteers. Some members of the department have raised concerns that offering credit for research assistantships will reduce intrinsic motivation and change the culture around student volunteering and commitment. We will investigate whether receiving course credit is associated with positive or negative differences in students’ experience, intrinsic motivation, and commitment to volunteer research activity. We will also consider whether course credit reduces perceived barriers to being a research assistant. Results will inform decisions about how to promote the course or whether we should continue offering it permanently.

Questions addressed:

• Does receiving course credit compared to volunteering change student motivations, experiences, or commitment?
• Does receiving course credit, compared to volunteering, reduce barriers that might prevent students from participating in research activities?
• Why do students choose not to receive research credit course for their research activity once course credit is available?

Dissemination: We will present our findings to SFU’s Psychology Department, and at teaching conferences. In addition, we plan to submit our findings for publication.

Keywords: Research volunteers, commitment, volunteer rewards and benefits, intrinsic and extrinsic rewards for volunteers