Replication of a course-based undergraduate research experience for music students

Introduction: Research skill development is a current need in music therapy education. Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) may address this need. The purpose of this study was (a) to replicate a CURE for students enrolled in a required music psychology course at a university in the United States, (b) to measure student outcomes, and (c) to compare results with the original study. Method: Students (N = 17) completed the Undergraduate Research Student Self-Assessment (URSSA) and the Research Skill Development Questionnaire (RSDQ), as outcome measures. Likert-type items on the URSSA were analyzed using descriptive statistics; open-ended responses were evaluated through content analysis. Independent-sample t tests were used to compare average scores in the URSSA subscales (Thinking Like a Scientist, Personal Gains, Research Skills, and Attitudes and Behaviors) between the original and replication study. Results: No significant differences were found between the original and current studies, indicating the replication of results. Similar to the original study, open-ended responses indicated an interest in graduate school, greater understanding of research, appreciation of hands-on experience, and plans to use research in their career. For suggestions for improvement, most students in both studies indicated an interest in being more involved and learning more about statistics. In the current study, students’ RSDQ pre and posttest subscale scores showed significant improvement in Research Dispositions (paired-sample t tests). Discussion: These results indicate the feasibility of using CURE projects to support research skill development and the feasibility of replicating a protocolized experience in a university program with different research traditions and resources.