Differences in Graduate and Undergraduate Performance in a Core Research Course

Abstract In an effort to determine research content appropriate to the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, this study describes differences between undergraduate and graduate social work students and identifies predictors of achievement in an introductory research course. In general, graduates were older, had higher undergraduate grade point averages, were more likely to be male, and did better in the research course than undergraduates. The best predictors of achievement were undergraduate grade point average, interest in the class, and, for graduate students, prior experience in research.