There is a rapidly increasing movement towards integrating scientific research training into undergraduate medical education. The aim of this study was to explore the perceived attitudes of female second-year undergraduate medical students towards research at the College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Saudi Arabia, as well as to explore if any differences exist between students with and without previous research experiences. An online, anonymous, cross-sectional, self-rating survey was administered. A two-tailed Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare the mean 5-point Likert scale responses between students with and without previous research experiences. Sixty-one students (61/81) participated in the survey with a 75.3 % response rate. Nineteen participants (31.1 %) had previous research experiences. Overall, all students demonstrated positive attitudes towards undergraduate research. There were significant statistical differences in the means of attitudes towards undergraduate research between students with versus without previous research experiences in regards to the following statements: ‘my adequate possession of research knowledge and skills promotes participation in future research activities’ (3.4 vs. 2.9; p < 0.02), ‘I will participate in scientific research activities throughout my undergraduate medical education’ (3.7 vs. 3.1; p < 0.00), and ‘I have no interest at all in scientific research’ (1.6 vs. 2.4; p < 0.01). Previous exposure to scientific research experiences promotes more positive attitudes towards scientific research.