How to organise undergraduate lab training: evidence from 10 working social science research labs

The impacts of undergraduate research experiences are multiple and varied. Working in traditional laboratories (e.g. in the bench sciences) fosters many skills, including independence and critical thinking. Likewise, social science laboratories demonstrate important impacts on students with regard to clarification of career paths, understanding the research process, fostering a systems thinking approach to complex problems, and the ability to analyse and synthesise data. Prior studies suggest that engaging in undergraduate research increases students’ chances of continuing into graduate studies, helps them form a research identity, fosters a sense of belonging, and equips them with essential transferable skills. The social science research lab offers a distinctive platform to broaden access to research while also developing technical and analytical abilities. Despite this, there is a lack of formal recommendations on effectively integrating students into lab operations. That is, how do we foster these laboratory experiences that are so beneficial to students? This paper outlines expert advice from social scientists on managing research labs, covering resource needs, research lab policies, mentorship strategies, and professional development to foster inclusive, supportive environments that enhance student participation.