A Systematic Review of Barriers to Accessing Undergraduate Research for STEM Students: Problematizing Under-Researched Factors for Students of Color

Sophie Pierszalowski, Jana Bouwma-Gearhart and Lindsay Marlow
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Sophie Pierszalowski: Undergraduate Academic Affairs, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
Jana Bouwma-Gearhart: College of Education, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
Lindsay Marlow: Library Services, Buffalo School District, Buffalo, NY 14202, USA

Social Sciences, 2021, vol. 10, issue 9, 1-43

Abstract: While the benefits of undergraduate research experiences for students from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups have been well explored, more research is needed to better understand how students of color access these experiences. We summarize a non-structured review of literature that highlights barriers to success that students of color face in relation to STEM programming at the postsecondary level. Building from this, we report on a structured review of barriers to accessing undergraduate research. We discuss implications of the relative lack of research on access to undergraduate research for students of color at postsecondary institutions. We consider how barriers for the success and persistence of students of color in postsecondary STEM, overall, may manifest as barriers to accessing the undergraduate research experiences argued to help reduce these barriers. With the hope of guiding future relevant action, we put forth recommendations for researchers and practitioners.

Keywords: undergraduate research; access; STEM (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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