Pilot test the exit survey of participants in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program

REU [IRES] Participant Exit Survey 
Survey Eligibility  
1.

Did you participate in the REU [IRES] program [project] during
<2019>?
1  Yes
0  No ( screen out)
[If Q1=1, screened out]

Your answers indicate that you are not the intended person for this survey about . If you participated in another REU [IRES] program [project], you should have received
another survey link for that program [project]. Please contact the helpdesk if you did not receive the survey
associated with the program [project] in which you participated.
Thank you for your time!

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OMB No: 3145-XXXX
Privacy & Public Burden Statements

[If Q1=2, screened in]

Tell us about your REU [IRES] experience 

2.

[REU only] How much time did you spend participating in the REU program ?
If your research experience is ongoing, please provide your best estimate of how long you expect your
participation to last.
Number box, xx

weeks

[IRES only] How much time did you spend abroad as part of your participation in the project ?
If your research experience is ongoing, please provide your best estimate of how long you expect your
participation to last.
Number box, xx
3.

weeks

[IRES only] Before you traveled to the international research site, did you receive any of the following
supports from IRES faculty and staff?
Select all that apply
Foreign language instruction
Country orientation (covering culture, politics, customs, and so on)
Training in research techniques
Other:
Source: New Text box, xx

4.

Did you have a choice of research projects to work on during your REU [IRES] experience?
1  Yes
0  No
Source: Adapted from REU Eng Survey to tailor to a single REU experience

5.

Did you work on your own research project?
1  Yes, I worked on my own project [at the foreign site]
0  No, I worked on an existing project led by another researcher at the [foreign] site
Source: New

6.

Which of the following did you do as part of your REU [IRES] experience?
Select all that apply
Developed the ideas, hypotheses, broad framework, or vision for the research project
Researched literature relevant to the project
Developed instrumentation, software, equipment, or data collection processes
Synthesized or fabricated materials
Prepared samples or specimens
Conducted fieldwork or field observations

OMB No: 3145-XXXX
Privacy & Public Burden Statements

Collected data from a lab or office or carried out simulations
Analyzed data
Interpreted results
Planned or developed follow-up work based on results
Prepared summaries of results for dissemination (in publications or presentations)
Presented my work to other students, faculty or researchers (in a seminar, conference or other venue)
Mentored other students conducting research or led a student research team
Source: Adapted from adapted from EAPSI E4
7.

Did you participate in any of the following activities during your REU [IRES] research experience?
Select all that apply
Training on research ethics or institutional review boards
Writing workshops or seminars (such as proposal or scientific writing)
Professional development workshops or seminars (for example, inter-personal and communication skills,
preparation for graduate or employment, and so on)
Formal lectures or seminars on topics related to the research project
Research-related field trip(s) (for example, to other labs, universities, industry, and so on)
Source: New

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OMB No: 3145-XXXX
Privacy & Public Burden Statements

Tell us about your REU [IRES] primary mentor  
8.

Who was your primary mentor during your REU [IRES] research experience?
1  A professor or scientist
2  A postdoctoral fellow
3  A graduate student
4  Other, please specify:
Text box, xx
Source: Adapted from CISE REU A la Carte 21

9.

[IRES ONLY] Was your primary mentor from…?
1  A U.S. institution
2  A foreign institution
Source: New

10. On average, how many hours per week did you spend with your primary mentor?
Number box, xx

hours
Source: Adapted from CISE REU A la Carte

11. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with each statement below about your primary mentor.
My mentor…
Strongly
disagree
1

Somewhat
disagree
2

Neutral
3

Somewhat
agree
4

Strongly
agree
5

Not
applicable
6

a. was accessible
b. demonstrated professional integrity
c. demonstrated content expertise in my
research area
d. was supportive and encouraging
e. provided constructive and useful critiques of
my work
f. was helpful in directing and guiding me on
research project issues
g. answered my questions satisfactorily (for
example, timely, clearly, comprehensively)
h. acknowledged my contributions
appropriately
i. challenged me to extend my abilities
Source: Adapted CISE REU A la Carte

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OMB No: 3145-XXXX
Privacy & Public Burden Statements

The next questions ask about potential benefits of the REU [IRES] program 
[project]. 
12. Please rate how much you learned about the following during your REU [IRES] experience.
Nothing
at all
1

A little
bit
2

A good
amount
3

A great
deal
4
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.

Writing a research proposal
Giving an effective oral presentation
Writing technical and scientific text
Ethics in scientific research
Laboratory or research techniques
The nature of the job of a researcher
Working collaboratively with others
Identifying appropriate research methods and designs
Formulating a research hypothesis that could be answered with data
Analyzing data and interpreting results
Understanding the theories and concepts guiding a research project
Defending an argument when asked questions
Self-confidence in my ability to contribute to knowledge through
research
n. Applying and participating in conferences
o. [REU only] What graduate school is like
p. Career options in research
Source: Adapted from CISE REU a la carte
13. How much do you agree with the following statements?
Strongly
disagree
1

Somewhat
disagree
2

Neutral
3

Somewhat
agree
4

Strongly
agree
5

Not
applicable
6
a. My research benefited from access to expertise
of faculty in my field. [My research benefited
from access to expertise of foreign partners in
my field.]
b. My research benefited from access to data,
equipment, or facilities available at my REU
site. [My research benefited from access to data,
equipment, or facilities available in foreign
locations.]
c. [IRES only] My research benefited from access
to place-based phenomena that occur outside
the U.S. (e.g., biological, geological, cultural
phenomena).
d. [IRES only] Regulatory, bureaucratic or
administrative procedures in a foreign country
hindered the progress of my research.
e. [IRES only] Exposure to different cultural
perspectives improved the quality of my
research.
f. [IRES only] Cultural differences hindered the
progress of my research

OMB No: 3145-XXXX
Privacy & Public Burden Statements

g. [IRES only] Language differences hindered the
progress of my research.
h. [IRES only] My work abroad opened up new
areas of investigation.
i. I made valuable professional connections.
j. Participating in REU will help me be more
competitive for graduate schools or jobs.
[Participating in IRES will help me be more
competitive for competitive for jobs.]
k. Participating in REU [IRES] made me
consider professional opportunities I would not
have considered in the past.
Source: Adapted from PIRE grad survey C4 and EAPSI Applicant Survey F3 [consider alternatives for order delivery]
14. Has the REU [IRES] experience influenced your short- or long-term professional goals?
Select all that apply
1
2
3
4

REU [IRES] encouraged me to pursue further education (e.g. graduate school, post-doc, etc)
REU [IRES] helped solidify my interest in a research or academic career
REU [IRES] helped solidify my interest in science
REU [IRES] helped me change my career plans
Please explain how your plans changed: Text box, xx
5  None of the above. My professional goals did not change as a result of participating in the REU [IRES].
program.
Source: New

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OMB No: 3145-XXXX
Privacy & Public Burden Statements

Satisfaction with the REU [IRES] experience 
15. How do you feel about the length of time you spent researching as part of your REU [IRES] experience?
1  Too short
2  About right
3  Too long
Source: New
16. How do you feel about the amount of hands-on research you did during your REU [IRES] experience?
1  Wish I had done more
2  Did about the right amount
3  Wish I had done less
4  Not applicable
Source: Adapted from REU Eng Survey to focus on REU experience
17. How satisfied were you with the following aspects of the REU [IRES] program [project]:
Very
Somewhat Somewha
Very
Not
dissatisfied dissatisfied t satisfied
satisfied applicable
1
2
3
4
5
a. The www.nsfreu.org [www.nsfires.org] application website
b. Orientation or acclimation activities
c. Lab, technology, or field equipment
d. Support and guidance from faculty and mentors involved
in the program. [Support and guidance from U.S. faculty
involved in IRES.]
e. [IRES only] Support and guidance from the foreign host or
other foreign senior researchers.
f. Support and guidance from other students involved in the
program [Support and guidance from graduate U.S.
students involved in IRES.]
g. [IRES only] Support and guidance from undergraduate
U.S. students involved in IRES.
h. Quality of the interactions with the research group
i. Opportunities for professional development
j. Group social activities
k. [REU only] Housing arrangements
l. [REU only] Stipend
m. The REU [IRES] program [project] experience in general
Source: Adapted from URSSA 11and CISE REU a la carte 24 and new
18. [If Q17<4] Please describe changes you would like to see to the application website, program [project]
requirements, or supports and opportunities offered through the program [project]?
Text box, xxx

Source: New

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