Undergraduate students’ experiences of research: Findings from a cross-disciplinary analysis of students’ perceptions

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Research and Development in Higher Education Vol. 35: Connections in Higher Education

July, 2012, 373 pages
Published by
N. Brown, S.M. Jones, & A. Adam
ISBN
0 908557 89 2
Abstract 

Engagement in research has become increasingly recognised as a ‘high impact’ tool for undergraduate engagement in learning. A cross-disciplinary study of 151 students at a research-intensive university, using an established framework and survey instrument, explored students’ perceptions of research in undergraduate programs. It identified high levels of student awareness of research, experience of research, and a range of positive and negative impacts of staff research on learning. Statistically significant differences in students’ perceptions across disciplines were identified. Engagement in research was seen to be a valuable and effective way to learn, with students appreciating the ‘teaching- research nexus’ and the benefits to learning of their teachers’ research activity.

Keywords: undergraduate research; teaching-research nexus