Findings from an evaluation of an undergraduate research scheme

Jane McNeil & Helen PunthaNottingham Trent University

Context

Scholarship Projects for Undergraduate Researchers

Framework

Strategy.

HEFCE Funding for teaching enhanced by research.

Working Party for Research-Teaching.

Learning and Teaching Enhancement Strategy.

Research-Teaching Initiatives.

Audit.

Student research.

SPUR.

Research mentor scheme.

PG Dip Research-informed teaching.

Research-oriented teaching

Learning how to do research

Research-led teaching

Learning about others’ research

Research-based teaching

Curriculum is largely designed around inquiry-based activities

Research-informed teaching

Teaching draws on systematic inquiry into learning & teaching

Griffiths 2004

Evaluation

Can undergraduate research schemes contribute to mindfulness of the research-teaching nexus?

Methods and participation

• Survey at end of projects.

•16 student respondents (of 17).

•16 staff respondents (all projects represented).

• Group discussions, e.g. RIT roundtable.

• Other data (interest, outputs).

Findings: motivations

Students’ reported motivations

SM13SM15SM17

SM3

Research-led

Research-oriented

Research-informed

Research-based

SM11

SM10SM12

SM16

SM2SM4

SM5

SM6

SM7

SM8SM9

SM14

SM = Students’ motivations to apply

Supervisors’ reported motivations

Research-led

Research-oriented

Research-informed

Research-based

TM4

TM6TM7TM8TM9

TM9

TM10TM12TM15 TM14

TM13

TM16

TM1TM2TM3

TM5TM10TM11

TM = Supervisors’ motivations to apply

Perception of University motivation

T = Supervisors’ perceptions

S = Students’ perceptions

Research-led

Research-oriented

Research-informed

Research-based

S10S11

S12

S13

S14S16

S3

S4S6

S8

T1

T2T3

T4

T7

T9T8

T11

T15

T14

T12

S15S17

S2S5S9 T13

T16

T6T5

Findings: perceptions of impact

Selected reflections

Project supervisors

“reinvigorated my sense of undergraduates as part of a culture of knowledge and research at university”

“helped to put the horse back in front of the cart”

Selected reflections

Participating students

“excellent opportunity to be involved in a real research project”

“I feel like a real psychologist doing a real job”

Conclusions & lessons learnt