Undergraduate research symposium: Vital component in undergraduates' research journey

This study focused on social science undergraduate students' (a) perceptions of their research self-efficacy after participating in an undergraduate research symposium (URS) and (b) which research experiences were significant or meaningful and why. An explanatory sequential mixed-method design was used (2022−2023) with N = 91 Saudi female students completing a researcher-designed research self-efficacy e-survey (26 item, 5-point Likert agree/disagree scale): an experimental group (n = 50) that attended an URS and a control group (n = 41) that did not. This was followed by semi-structured interviews (n = 11) of experimental group participants. The experimental group exhibited significantly higher research self-efficacy overall (t-value = 7.731; p-value = .001) and across three aspects of research: planning, implementation, and presentation (average mean = 4.50). The URS was highly effective for social science students. A follow-up thematic analysis (>90 % intercoder reliability) yielded five themes further affirming the success of the URS in improving research self-efficacy: women's empowerment, self-regulated learning especially via library access, career resilience, a respect for inherent challenges, and transformed perceptions of research. Because of the URS experience, students gained confidence and belief in their ability to effectively undertake research-related tasks.