Impossible? Publication Quality Research with the Weakest 10% of Incoming Freshmen

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that even the weakest 10% of incoming freshmen can produce publishable research, with over 80% of cadet co-authors being minorities, women, or athletes, challenging assumptions about research potential.

Contribution

It introduces a successful program enabling the lowest 10% of freshmen to conduct publishable research, expanding opportunities beyond high-achieving students.

Findings

22 cadet papers published or under review in two years

Approximately 38% of projects meet publication standards

Over 80% of cadet authors are minorities, women, or athletes

Abstract

Undergraduate research is widely regarded as a high impact practice. However, usually only the highest achieving students are rewarded with undergraduate research opportunities. This paper reports on the successful implementation of a student research program offering the weakest 10% of incoming freshmen opportunities to conduct original research in one of several science or engineering disciplines with the possibility of publication if the research and report meet a suitable standard, defined as earning an A on the final research project report in the introductory math course. The opportunity has been offered now for two years to incoming cadets at the United States Air Force Academy who are placed in Basic Math. The cadets placed in this course score in the bottom 5% of incoming cadets on the math placement exam. During the second semester of their freshman year, cadets enrolled in Calculus 1 are also offered a similar research opportunity. About 10% of cadets are enrolled in this course each Spring, the 5% who began in Basic Math and matriculate to Calculus 1 and the 5% who failed Calculus 1 in their first attempt. During the first four semesters, the program has yielded 22 cadet papers which have been published or are currently under review and expected to be published. This represents approximately 38% of the projects in the program, because the majority of the projects do not earn As and are not suitable for publication. Over 80% of the cadet co-authors on the publication quality papers are minorities, women, and/or intercollegiate athletes.