Students’ Self-Reported Changes in Intercultural Knowledge and Competence Associated with Three Undergraduate Science Experiences

Authors

  • Carol Bender
  • David Wright
  • David Lopatto

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v18i1.268

Keywords:

Assessment, Study abroad, Student self-reports, Intercultural knowledge, Undergraduate science experience abroad

Abstract

University mission statements increasingly emphasize internationalization and employers increasingly seek graduates with experience in the global arena. This focus on international experience has led to the development of a variety of models for study abroad, including research abroad programs. To assess the value of an international research experience for undergraduates, in this article, we examined the impact of two international programs on their respective participants and compared these to the gains achieved by students participating in research on their home campus. Utilizing what Meyer-Lee and Evans (2007) classify as direct impacts on participants for study and research abroad programs, we assess three factors: disciplinary knowledge, intercultural competence, and social growth. We describe the gains reported by students in each program in each of these areas.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Carol Bender

Carol Bender is the Director of the Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBRP) and the Biomedical Research Abroad: Vistas Open (BRAVO!) Program at the University of Arizona, a position she has held since 1989. She has authored a number of publications about UBRP and BRAVO! Carol has been a consultant to the Binational Fulbright Commission in Egypt and to the University of Aguascalientes in Mexico. In 1997, she was a Senior Fulbright Scholar (IEA) to Japan. She is a founding member and President of the Arizona Chapter of the Fulbright Association. In addition, she is a Counselor in the Undergraduate Research Program Directors’ Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research.

David Wright

David Wright received his Ph.D. from the University of Arizona (1997) where he specialized in Second Language Pedagogical Theory. His research interests lie in the areas of language teaching, as well as cross-cultural training, and he has published and lectured widely on those topics. Between 1998 and 2003 he served as the Director of Business German in the Department of Germanic Studies at the University of Texas. In August 2003 he joined the Office of International Affairs at the University of Arizona where he directs Study Abroad and Student Exchange. 

David Lopatto

David Lopatto is Professor of Psychology at Grinnell College. He received his Ph. D. in experimental psychology from Ohio University. His research includes analysis of the Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences survey (SURE) and the Classroom Undergraduate Research Experiences survey (CURE) as well as other assessment of student learning. He worked with a Grinnell College assessment group to develop the study abroad survey used in the current study.

References

Bender, Carol (2004). “Biomedical research abroad: Vistas open (BRAVO!): A program to internationalize the undergraduate science curriculum. In: Reinvigorating the Undergraduate

Experience: Successful Models Supported by NSF’s AIRE/RAIRE Program.” J. Stocks and L. Kauffman (eds). Council on Undergraduate Research. Available on line at: http://www.cur.org/publications/AIRE_RAIRE/arizona.asp

Bender, Carol, Ward, Samuel, Wells, Michael A (1994). “Improving undergraduate biology education at a large research university.” Molecular Biology of the Cell, 5:129–134.

Lopatto, David (2004). “Survey of undergraduate research experiences (SURE): First findings.” Cell Biology Education 3, 270–277.

Meyer-Lee, Elaine, Evans, Joy (2007). “Areas of study in outcomes assessment.” In: A Guide to Outcomes Assessment in Education Abroad. M.C. Bolen (ed.). Forum on Education Abroad. 61–70.

Koh Cin, H and Bhandari, R (2006). Open Doors 2006: Report on International Education Exchange. New York: Institute of International Education, 18–19.

Pappano, Laura (November 4, 2007). “The foreign legions.” The New York Times: Education Life, 28–29.
brown cover with white text and black and white globe logo

Downloads

Published

2009-08-15

How to Cite

Bender, C., Wright, D., & Lopatto, D. (2009). Students’ Self-Reported Changes in Intercultural Knowledge and Competence Associated with Three Undergraduate Science Experiences. Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, 18(1), 307–322. https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v18i1.268

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 1 (2009): Volume 18, Fall 2009

Section

Research Articles